CMS Men's Water Polo Moves to 5-0 in SCIAC with 10-8 Win at La Verne

LA VERNE, Calif. - Four different players had two goals, and the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team held off a late La Verne rally to take a 10-8 win over the Leopards on Saturday at Las Flores Park.

With the win, CMS now stands at 14-6 overall and 5-0 in the SCIAC, with all six losses coming to Division I teams who ranked in the top 12 of the national poll at the time. La Verne drops to 1-4 in league play. 

Auggie Aliaga had a team-high three points on two goals and an assist, while Luke (Bear) Weigle, Jeffrey Koretz, and Jack Bryant each added two goals. Nick Kennedy and Kyle Ballack added goals as well, while Aidan Nettekoven had nine saves and allowed four goals in the first half to get the win. 

CMS had a 7-2 lead late in the first half after a Koretz goal, and settled for a 7-3 lead at the break. La Verne got back within 8-5, but Aliaga and Koretz scored back-to-back goals to put CMS in front 10-5 with 3:39 left in the third. 

The Leopards managed to keep the Stags off the scoreboard the rest of the way, behind 13 saves by Eric Bates, and closed to within 10-8 with 3:55 left on a Peter Trinh goal. However, CMS forced the Leopards into turnovers on their next three possessions and La Verne was merely able to hit the post in the final minute as the Stags picked up the road win. 

CMS will be back in action on Wednesday night when it hosts Whittier for a 7 p.m. contest.