CMS Men's Water Polo Starts Fast, But Pomona-Pitzer Comes Back for 12-10 Win

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team raced out to a 5-1 lead after the first quarter, but Pomona-Pitzer was able to regroup and come back for a 12-10 win on Saturday evening at Haldeman Pool.

CMS scored the game's first three goals over the first four minutes, with Auggie Aliaga opening the scoring 43 seconds in, and Luke (Bear) Weigle following just over a minute later. An Eli Schwarz goal at the 3:58 mark had the Stag sup 3-0 early. 

After Pomona-Pitzer got on the board, Gavin Rosser answered right back, and Weigle scored his second goal of the opening quarter to make it a 5-1 lead after the end of the first. 

The Sagehens got two of the goals back quickly, but Cristian Pang scored to make it a 6-3 lead. Sam Sasaki closed out the scoring in the first half for Pomona-Pitzer, and the Sagehens opened the second half with two goals to tie it 6-6.

Aliaga broke the tie with his second goal, and Pang broke another tie with his second goal with just one seconds left in the third to give CMS an 8-7 lead going into the fourth. Pomona-Pitzer, though, scored five times in the fourth. Len Korol tallied a goal with 1:24 left to close CMS to within 10-9, but Sasaki answered right back and the Sagehens took it 12-10. 

CMS will be back in action at home on Wednesday for the opening round of the SCIAC Tournament.