Stags Win SCIAC Water Polo Championships

Final: CMS d. Pomona-Pitzer 16-8 Boxscore

In a much anticipated match-up between the Stags and Sagehens, the Stags got the upper hand right from the get go, getting a large lead and maintaining it throughout helping them earn yet another SCIAC Championship Title.  The Stags were led by freshman Tanner Cullen who registered a game high six goals, while the Sagehens saw Gaut tally four of his own. 

CMS got the momentum early as they added two quick goals but saw Pomona-Pitzer rally back to cut the deficit to one after one quarter of play.  The second quarter was where the momentum shifted back in the Stags' favor as they totaled four goals all coming at the start of the quarter prior to the Sagehens stopping the run with a Gaut goal at the 2:31 mark.

Coming out of the half, the Sagehens answered with four goals, but every time they scored the Stags would be there to answer with a goal of their own keeping an advantage after three.  In the final frame, the Stags wrapped up their Championship run outscoring the Sagehens 3-1 and holding the high powered Sagehen offense to a mere eight goals.

Semifinals: CMS d. Cal Lutheran 13-9 Boxscore

In one of two semi-finals on the day, CMS found themselves in a battle with the six seeded Kingsmen early, but pulled away late to earn yet another trip to the SCIAC Championship final.   Cal Lutheran jumped out early with a goal from Baldwin but saw CMS tally five unanswered to close out the frame led by Huston Middlesworth (2).  CLU tallied the first goal of the second quarter, but again saw the Stags go on a run scoring back to back to back to extend their lead to 8-2 going into the half. 

Coming out of the break, the Kingsmen found their offense adding once again the first goal of the quarter but was only able to find the back of the net with two seconds to play evening the goals scored at 2-2.  This proved to be a factor going into the final quarter as CLU tacked on five goals (2 Early; 3 Late) but it wasn't enough as CMS added three themselves to pull off the victory 13-9.

The Stags were led by Holland who finished with 4 goals, while the Kingsmen' Baldwin and Novakovic finished with two goals apiece.

First Round: CMS d. La Verne 16-7 Boxscore

CMS came in as the No. 2 overall seed and opened up the contest on a 4-0 run in the first quarter against the No. 7 seeded Leopards of the University of La Verne.  After the Leopards added their first goal at the 3:31 mark in the second quarter the Stags opened up another 4-0 run led by Brian Baier.  They took a 10-2 lead into the half.  Coming out of the break, four exclusions were called early, but La Verne was the only team able to capitalize pulling within seven.  Despite closing out the third quarter with two goals to pull within six, the Leopards were unable to stop the Stag offense as Cullen and John Holland put the game out of reach with two goals to open the fourth.

Recaps courtesy of Whittier Sports Information