CLAREMONT, Calif. - Nick Kennedy scored a combined seven goals on opening day as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team earned a split on the first day of the Inland Empire Classic on Friday at Axelrood Pool, falling to Division I UC San Diego 14-8, and then defeating Division II Biola 14-6. 

Kennedy began the day with three goals and one assist against UC San Diego, and the followed with four goals and two assists in the Biola win. Thomas Walker also had a hat trick in the Biola victory, while Asher Engelberg and Christopher Petrossian each scored twice. 

Kennedy opened the scoring against Biola 1:26 into the game, and then fed Luke (Bear) Weigle to make it 2-0. After the Eagles closed to within 2-1, Kennedy and Walker each scored goals to give the Stags a 4-1 lead with 58 seconds left in the first quarter. 

After Biola scored again with 34 seconds left in the first to make it 4-2 going into the second, Walker scored on the first CMS possession, and then Kennedy had two straight goals to put the Stags ahead 7-2. The Eagles were able to close to within 7-4 at the half, but the Stags were able to break it open with a 5-0 run in the second half, with Petrossian capping it off with his second goal with 2:58 to go to make it 13-5. 

Jake Taylor went the distance in goal, making five saves to get the win. Jack Bryant and Ivey Gehring also had goals for the Stags, while Gehring and Nelson Harris tied for team high honors with three steals. 

Kennedy and Weigle each scored in the first quarter against UC San Diego to keep the Stags within 3-2, and after the Tritons scored three in a row, Kennedy and Jeffrey Koretz finished off the first half with goals to make it 6-4 at intermission. Gavin Netherton answered a UC San Diego goal to make it 7-5, but the Tritons scored the next seven goals to pull away. Scales, Kennedy and Harris scored fourth-quarter goals for CMS. 

The Stags take on Concordia Irvine at 10:20 on Saturday, before capping off the tournament at 5 p.m. against Iona.