CLAREMONT, Calif. - Gavin Netherton and Nick Kennedy led a balanced offense with two goals apiece as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team was able to outlast Chapman 11-8 in its SCIAC opener on Saturday at Axelrood Pool. 

With the win, CMS improves to 5-5 on the season, with all five losses coming to teams that are nationally ranked in Division I. 
 
The Stags never trailed as Kennedy and Ivey Gehring opened up the scoring in the first quarter, and the Panthers were never able to get all the back even. Donovan Davidson scored to make it 3-1, and Thomas Walker answered a Chapman goal to make it 4-2. 

After Luke (Bear) Weigle gave CMS a 5-3 lead, and the Panthers closed to 5-4, the Stags were able to get some breathing room with a 3-0 run. Jack Bryant scored with 5:44 left in the half to give CMS a 6-4 lead and Netherton scored the first of his two goals to give the Stags a 7-4 lead heading into the break. 

Kennedy opened the second half with a goal to make it 8-4, and after Chapman scored two straight goals to close to within 8-6, Netherton scored his second and Stryker Scales added one on the next possession to put CMS ahead 10-6. Chapman again got back within two in the fourth quarter, but Jeffrey Koretz was able to score with 1:56 left to seal it. 

Jake Tayloe had seven saves in goal to get the win for CMS, while Walker had three steals. Cristian Pang, Donovan Davidson and Auggie Aliaga each had two assists, while Weigle drew four exclusions. 

CMS will be back in action when it travels to Occidental on Wednesday before returning home to host the Gary Troyer Invitational on Friday and Saturday with games against Pepperdine, Air Force, Wagner and Biola.