SCIAC opener goes to Stags

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team won their first SCIAC match of the year, erasing an early deficit to beat La Verne 13-6.

The Stags trailed 3-2 at the end of the first quarter after trading back-and-forth goals with the Leopards.

To start the second, CMS scored on back to back possessions and turned that momentum into a plethora of scoring opportunities. The Stags scored the only four goals of the period, with the first three occurring in less than a minute and a half.

The scoring streak would not stop there, as senior Adam Hilborn (CMC) notched a pair in the third. Seniors Tanner Cullen (CMC) and Daniel Cogan (CMC) made it a 10-3 lead, each notching their second goals of the match.

La Verne battled back with three of their own in an exciting third quarter, scoring with just seconds remaining to threaten the Stags lead at 10-6.

An ejection gave CMS a man advantage in the fourth and Cullen took advantage, finding the back of the net for the third time. Junior Eric Bakar (CMC) and Noah Deer (CMC) added additional insurance markers and the Stags walked away with a 13-6 victory.

Eight different players scored for the Stags who own an overall record of 11-7 with a preliminary 1-0 SCIAC mark.

The CMS men's water polo team has now beaten La Verne in 18 of their last 19 matches dating back to the 2007 season.

Cullen, who had back to back seven goal games against Fresno Pacific and Citrus, leads the team in goals with 59.

The Stags will travel to Cal Lutheran on Oct. 21 looking to keep their seven-match win streak alive. It will be the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

By Tony Steege
Sports Information Assistant

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