Athenas Beat the Buzzer to Cap Off Strong Convergence Weekend
CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team split the final day of the 2018 Convergence Tournament, falling to UC San Diego 16-4 before taking down Cal State Monterey Bay 6-5 with a last second goal from Amelia Ayala (CMC). The Athenas now sit at a record of 6-4 on the season.
Game One - UC San Diego defeats CMS 16-4
The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team opened Day Two of the 2018 Convergence Tournament with a tough 16-4 defeat at the hands of the UC San Diego Tritons. UCSD scored early and often to open up a 9-1 lead at the end of the first-half. CMS, played a much stronger second-half, but the Tritons continued to increase their lead and earned the victory.
Jessica Gaffney (CMC) scored the lone goal for the Athenas in the first-half with a tally midway through the opening period. In the second-half, CMS put three goals on the board with Amelia Ayala (CMC) netting two in the third period and Gaffney scoring her second of the match on a five-meter shot with 2:32 remaining in the contest.
In goal, Chandlyr Denaro (CMC) made six saves and collected two steals for the Athenas.
Game Two - CMS defeats Cal State Monterey Bay 6-5
With 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Ayala broke the 5-5 tie with a shot from close range that squeaked inside the near post for game-winner. It was Ayala's first goal of the game and gave CMS the 6-5 win over Cal State Monterey Bay.
The game started at an extremely slow pace with the two teams combining for just two goals in the first half of the game. The Otters struck first with a goal just over four minutes into the opening period and CMS tied the score with a breakaway goal from Roxy Kiessling just two and a half minutes later.
After a scoreless second period, the game turned to the second-half tied 1-1. CMS exploded for three goals in the third period to take a commanding 4-1 lead to the final quarter. Aracelia Aldrete (CMC), Kiessling, and Krystal Sung (CMC) notched the important third period goals for the Athenas.
The Otters swiftly pulled within one goal thanks to two-straight tallies to start the fourth period. Jessica Gaffney got CMS back on the board with 2:33 remaining in the game to make it a 5-3 game.
Monterey Bay's Morgan Tucker scored back-to-back goals to tie the game a 5-5 with 22 seconds remaining, The Athenas called a timeout following the goal and drew up the game-winning goal. Ayala took a pass from Gaffney on the left-side and tucked her shot inside the near post for the winner.
The victory moves the Athenas to 6-4 overall on the season and caps off an exciting 3-1 weekend for CMS. The Athenas earned one-goal victories over Somona St., Villanova, and Cal State Monterey Bay.
CMS is next in action on Wednesday when they travel across the street to take on the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens at 7:00 p.m. in their second SCIAC game of the season.
