CMS Women's Water Polo Edged 11-10 By Pomona-Pitzer in SCIAC Finals

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team got tying goals late from Fiona Murphy and Caitlin Muñoz, but Brienz Lang broke a 10-10 tie with 1:43 left to give the Pomona-Pitzer women's water polo team a dramatic 11-10 win over the Athenas in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship on Sunday at Haldeman Pool.

CMS slips to 19-10 overall with the loss, but will still advance through to the USA Water Polo Division III Championship next week. Pomona-Pitzer earned the right to host by winning the SCIAC title, and the two teams could very well meet up again next Sunday in the national championship, after the Sagehens won it over the Athenas last year 14-13 in overtime. 

CMS took an 8-7 lead into the fourth quarter after Grace Clark broke a 7-7 tie with just one second left. Pomona-Pitzer scored the first two goals of the fourth, before Fiona Murphy came through with a tying goal with 2:42 to go. The Sagehens went back in front with 2:24 left, but Muñoz was able to knot it back up 21 seconds later. The alternating goal sequence ended 20 seconds later, with the winner from Lang. 

The Athenas started quickly by pulling ahead 4-1 in the first on two goals from Valerie Wraith and one apiece from Mia Adsen and Clark. Pomona-Pitzer got back even at the half and went ahead 5-4 early in the third, before Adsen and Olivia Cairns scored to put CMS back in front.  

Clark led CMS with three goals, while Adsen had two goals and an assist and Wraith had two goals. Murphy and Clark each had two steals.

CMS has had three tight defeats to Pomona-Pitzer in the last year, including last year's national championship and this year's SCIAC finals. In between, the Athenas fell in overtime a second time 12-9 back in March, when CMS led 9-7 in the fourth.