CLAREMONT, Calif. - Gray Mollenkamp scored the equalizer with 2:01 left in the first half and John Laidlaw broke the tie in the second half as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps soccer team came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Caltech 2-1 on Wednesday at Pritzlaff Field. 

With the win, CMS  improves to 3-6-4 overall and 2-3-2 in the SCIAC, getting back in the thick of the postseason chase. Caltech slips to 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the SCIAC with the loss. 

The Beavers went ahead on a penalty kick with 11:41 in the first half after CMS was called for a foul in the penalty area. Matthew Luk converted with his fifth goal of the season to give Caltech a lead. 

However, Paxton English helped get the Stags level before the half when he turned the corner on the right side of the field. He sent a cross into the penalty area that was perfectly weighted to carry over the head of goalkeeper Ethan Hamel, and it came down into the path of Mollenkamp at the far post, who one-timed it into the vacant net to make the score 1-1. 

Laidlaw then gave the Stags the lead 9:25 into the second half, when he intercepted the ball in his offensive third and sent a low shot inside the left post for an unassisted tally. 

The Stags defense held tight the rest of the way, with Henry Otte making two saves to preserve the win in the relief. Miles Demarest played the first half and had two saves as well for the Stags, who finished the game with a 20-7 edge in shots. 

CMS will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Occidental for a key SCIAC matchup.