CMS Men's Water Polo Splits on First Day of Inland Empire Classic

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team had an impressive showing in a 21-12 defeat to No. 3 USC in its first game of the Inland Empire Classic on Saturday, and then came back to earn a convincing 14-10 win over Concordia (Irvine) to split the day's action.

With the split, CMS moves to 2-4 on the season, with three of the losses coming to UCLA, USC and UC Santa Barbara. 

USC took a 7-0 lead after the first quarter, but the Stags played the Trojans virtually toe-to-toe the rest of the way. CMS won the second quarter 4-3 to pull within 10-4 at the half, and stayed within 16-8 after the third, before finishing with 12 goals in a losing effort.

Thomas Walker had a hat trick in the second quarter, scoring three straight CMS goals, before Gavin Rosser beat the buzzer with a fourth. Cristian Pang had a second-half hat trick and Len Korol added a pair of goals as well, with William Thomas and Ben Weldon also picking up tallies.

In the nightcap, CMS roared out to a 6-1 lead at the end of the first quarter, and took a 10-1 lead into the half, before settling for a 14-10 win over Concordia. Korol had four goals to finish with six on the day, and Pang had two, along with Auggie Aliaga and Luke (Bear) Weigle. Aidan Nettekoven had six saves and allowed one goal in the first half for the Stags.

CMS will be back in action tomorrow for the second day of the Inland Empire Classic, facing Westcliff at 9 a.m. and Air Force at 3 p.m.