LA JOLLA, Calif. - The defending Division III national champion Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team tested itself on opening day against a pair of top Division I programs at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational, falling to No. 8 Pepperdine and No. 2 USC on Saturday afternoon.

Nick Kennedy had eight goals on the day for the Stags, including six against second-ranked USC, as the reigning Division III National Player of the Year opened up his senior campaign in style. 

Calvin Donat had three goals against Pepperdine, including two straight goals to give CMS a 7-5 lead late in the first half. The Waves were able to knot the score at 7-7 at the break and then open the second half with four straight goals to take command.

Kennedy had a pair of goals against Pepperdine as well, the first of which tied the score 1-1 and the second of which gave CMS a 5-4 lead early in the second. Hassen Hove tied the score 2-2 in the first and Oliver Geheb put the Stags in front 3-2 after the first quarter with the first of his two goals in his collegiate debut. Jeffrey Koretz opened the second quarter with a goal to make the score 4-2. 

Geheb scored his second goal in the third quarter and Donat completed his hat trick in the fourth, but Pepperdine was able to outscore CMS 9-2 after halftime to secure the win. 

Weston Hartel and Kennedy scored first-quarter goals against USC and Donat added a second quarter tally. Kennedy scored five times in the second half, while Fletcher Appeldorn added his first collegiate goal. 

CMS will be back in action next weekend when it co-hosts the Inland Empire Classic at Axelrood Pool, facing UC Santa Barbara (9 a.m.) and CSU Fullerton (3 p.m.) on Friday and UC Irvine (8 a.m.) and Biola (5 p.m.) on Saturday.