CLAREMONT, Calif. - Nick Kennedy and Gavin Netherton each had three goals and two assists, as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team defeated Redlands 17-11 in the SCIAC Semifinals on Thursday evening at Axelrood Pool. 

With the win, the Stags improve to 21-5 and advance to the SCIAC Championship game on Saturday against top-seeded Pomona-Pitzer, which defeated Whittier in the other semifinal. By advancing to the SCIAC Championship, both CMS and Pomona-Pitzer will receive bids to the USA Water Polo Division III Championships on Dec. 6-7, with the winner of Saturday's title game earning the right to host. 

The Stags fell behind to Redlands 1-0 early but then scored the next seven goals to take control, with Netherton scoring all three of his goals during the run. After Donovan Davidson tied it with 4:45 left in the first, Netherton scored twice 47 seconds apart to make it a 3-1 game. 

Stryker Scales and Jack Bryant closed out the first quarter with goals, and Netherton opened the second quarter with his third to make it 6-1. Luke (Bear) Weigle capped off the run with a goal with 6:15 left in the half to push the lead to 7-1. 

Scales added his second goal and Weston Hartel converted with 16 seconds left in the half to make it 9-2, but the Bulldogs answered with four seconds left to make it 9-3 CMS going into the break. Kennedy scored twice in the third quarter and Bryant and Davidson each added their second. Ivey Gehring converted a goal in the fourth, while Christopher Petrossian added two. 

Jake Taylor had 10 saves for the Stags, while Weigle led CMS with five drawn exclusions. 

CMS will face Pomona-Pitzer for the second time this season for the SCIAC title, after the Sagehens won the first meeting 10-9 in overtime. That is the only loss that the Stags have suffered in their last 18 contests, since a 4-4 start to the year.