REDLANDS, Calif. –
Fletcher Appeldorn tied the score with four seconds left in regulation, and
Jack Bryant had the game-winner in sudden death overtime, as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team took down Redlands 10-9 in the SCIAC opener for both teams on Saturday at the Thompson Aquatics Center.
The defending national champion Stags, ranked No. 1 in Division III, improve to 2-9 on the year, with all nine losses coming to Division I teams. Redlands, which has also played a DI-heavy schedule and is ranked No. 2 in Division III, slips to 2-8.
After the score was tied 9-9 after the first two overtime sessions, Redlands won the sprint, but
Evan Liberatore was able to come up with a steal. Redlands was called for an exclusion in transition, and as the penalty expired, Bryant was able to skip a shot in near post for the game-winner.
CMS was down 7-5 in the closing minutes of regulation, but
Jeffrey Koretz was able to convert off a pass from
Stryker Scales to close the gap to one with 2:38 to go.
The score remained stuck at 7-6 until the final possession, with the Stags pulled the goalie and had Appeldorn wear the goalie cap as an extra attacker.
Nick Kennedy started the play from the right side of the pool, and threw a cross-pool pass to
Weston Hartel, who swung it to Appeldorn for the tying goal from a sharp angle with just four seconds left.
In the first overtime session,
Connor Burks had a save from close range, and after an exclusion against Redlands, Kennedy found the net with a skip shot on the power play to give CMS its first lead since the opening half at 8-7.
However, the Bulldogs scored the next two goals to go back in front, before
Jack Balas knotted it up with 1:06 left in the second overtime. CMS had the final chance with the goalie pulled again, but the Bulldogs were able to make the save to send it to sudden death.
Kennedy finished with two goals and four assists, and Appeldorn added a pair of goals as well. Burks finished with 12 saves for the Stags in goal, while Bryant and Liberatore each had three steals.
CMS will be back in action when it hosts Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. contest.
