LA VERNE, Calif. - John Laidlaw had a goal and an assist, including an early second-half goal that help up as the game-winner, as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer team earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over La Verne on Wednesday evening at Oltmayer Stadium. 

With the win, CMS moves to 8-2-1 overall on the season and 4-2 in the SCIAC, while La Verne slips to 2-9 overall and 2-5 in league play. 

CMS struck early in both halves, which proved to be pivotal in the one-goal win. Collin Ross opened the scoring just 2:32 into the game when he scored off an assist from Rafael Otero. Cooper Danielson stretched the 2-0 at the 25:55 mark when he tallied off a Laidlaw pass, but the Leopards were able to cut the lead to 2-1 at the break. 

Laidlaw then scored the eventual game-winner just 2:22 into the second half, off of assists from James Gomez and Shaan Malik. The lead stayed at 3-1 until La Verne got back to within one with 10:31 left on a goal from Adan Villarreal. The CMS defense held firm the rest of the way, though, not allowing the Leopards another shot on target. 

CMS finished with a 19-14 advantage in shot attempts and 14-4 in shots on goal, but La Verne's two goalies combined for 11 saves to keep it close. 

The Stags will be back in action when they play a road game at Caltech on Saturday at 11 a.m.