CLAREMONT, Calif. -
Nick Kennedy had five goals in the second half to help the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's water polo team take an 8-4 lead in the fourth quarter, but Pomona-Pitzer came back with a 6-1 run to win it 10-9 on Wednesday evening at Axelrood Pool.
CMS slips to 1-1 on the year in SCIAC play, while Pomona-Pitzer improves to 2-0.
The Stags trailed 4-3 at the half, but Kennedy scored all three goals for both teams in the third quarter as he helped stake CMS to a 6-4 lead after three.
Jeffrey Koretz scored on the first possession of the fourth, and Kennedy followed with another goal to make it an 8-4 CMS advantage.
Pomona-Pitzer broke the ice with a fortuitous bounce off the crossbar, off the back of goalkeeper
Connor Burks and in, and got renewed life by scoring three straight goals to close to within 8-7. Kennedy stemmed the tide with a key power play foal with 2:29 to go, but Zach Whitfield answered for Pomona-Pitzer on the power play 24 seconds later.
Darragh Flanders then scored two straight goals to put the Sagehens ahead with 21 seconds left, and the Stags last-ditch effort with the goalie pulled ended with a shot off the post.
Burks had 12 saves for the Stags in the loss, while
Weston Hartel and
Gavin Netherton each had goals as well.
CMS will be back in action when it hosts the Gary Troyer Invitational this weekend, with home games on Friday at 12:45 vs. CSU Fullerton and 7 p.m. vs. Concordia Irvine, followed by Saturday games against Mt. St. Mary's (11 a.m.) and Air Force (5:15 p.m.).
