The Pomona-Pitzer (10-2-2, 7-2-2 SCIAC) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (7-4-2, 5-3-2 SCIAC) women’s soccer teams played to a 0-0 draw Oct. 14, as neither team found the back of the net after two grueling overtime periods.
The P-P offense created a number of promising opportunities throughout the game, but were ultimately denied by CMS goalkeeper Claire Hamson CM ’21, who managed 11 saves, including several acrobatic dives to keep the ball off the line.
When asked who she would choose as the player of the game, midfielder Lauryn Jeans CM ’22 said: “I’d have to give it to our goalie, she made some amazing saves. But then again, everyone is working out there, even on our bench.”
On the other end of the pitch, P-P goalkeeper Isa Berardo PZ ’20 also kept a clean sheet, registering seven saves.
Despite the lack of goals, P-P head coach Jennifer Scanlon was delighted with the team’s performance.
“It was probably our best game start to finish we’ve played this season,” Scanlon said. “We did what we set out to do on offense and created good opportunities.”
This was the second matchup of the season between P-P and CMS, with the Athenas having taken the first game with a 1-0 win back on Sept. 12. On Sunday, the rivalry remained strong as the two teams produced another close and exciting game.
“Given that this was our second match against Pomona Pitzer, I think the biggest difference was that we both knew a little bit more about how each other play and about what skill sets each player had,” CMS head coach Jennifer Clark said. “We didn’t approach it any differently in practice, but we each had more information going in that allowed us to prepare better for the game.”
The Sixth Street rivalry games are ones that the players always look forward to, and are truly one of a kind, with all athletes from both teams attending colleges within the same consortium.
“I think it’s the most fun rivalry in the country,” Sarah Malott CM ’19 said. “You can’t really get this sort of ‘across the street rivalry’ anywhere else.”
With three games of conference play remaining before the postseason, P-P is currently sitting on top of the SCIAC standings and are heading confidently into the final stretch of the season.
“Coach has always talked about playing to your potential … we’re almost there,” Emily Tomz PO ’22 said.
Now fifth in the SCIAC and with four conference games left, CMS believes that they can make a strong final push to finish their season in the top four of the standings to make the SCIAC tournament.
“We’d love to end on a high note,” Catherine Leon CM ’19 said. “Making the SCIAC tournament is crucial for our season, and we’re a very dangerous team. Don’t count us out just yet.”
On Saturday, Oct. 20, the Sagehens will be looking to have a strong showing against Cal Lutheran (8-2-4, 6-2-3 SCIAC), while the Athenas will be hoping to win a crucial game against Whittier (4-4-4, 3-4-3 SCIAC), who sit right below them in the standings at sixth.