On Wednesday, Oct. 29, all eyes were turned to Hadelman Pool, where Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) men’s water polo were facing off for the first time this season. Both teams entered the game tied for first place in the SCIAC standings, both unbeaten in conference play.
In the end, the Sagehens left with their untarnished record intact, defeating the Stags in a thrilling 10-9 overtime win to improve to an 8-0 record, whereas CMS fell to 7-1 with their first loss of the season.
Both teams entered the water eager to make a statement, looking to put themselves ahead early. In the first three minutes, the Hens and Stags each hit the post once. Finding the back of the net would not be easy.
Nearly halfway through the first quarter, the Stags got the first score of the game with a shot from Nick Kennedy CM ’27. However, only 12 seconds later, their lead was quickly erased by the Sagehens thanks to a goal from Zach Whitfield PO ’28.
It was not the last CMS would see of Whitfield, who notched a hat trick in the game, but the Stags fought to regain the lead in the first quarter. P-P goalie Greg Moore PZ ’27 made a couple of saves in the first quarter, including one from point-blank range, holding the Stags to one goal and keeping the Hens in front.
Moore discussed the importance of his saves in preserving his team’s momentum early on in the game.
“Making saves means that my defense has been beaten,” Moore said. “I have to be there for the guys. Once I make those saves, it gives energy to the team.”
The pace of the game escalated quickly in the second quarter, with both teams seeing the back of the net four times. Just like in the first quarter, CMS snatched the first point, equalizing the score 2-2. But once again, P-P was quick to react and ended up going into halftime with a 6-5 lead.
The second half included scores from Whitfield and Darragh Flanders PO ’28, who were the Sagehens’ top scorers of the night with four goals.
The Sagehens finished the third quarter with an 8-7 lead, but were unable to net a goal in the fourth, allowing the Stags to tie the game at eight apiece at the end of regulation.
Although P-P hadn’t scored since the third quarter, they started overtime with renewed energy and confidence, fueled by their long-range shot attempts. Whitfield, who notched three goals and two assists — five points total — stressed that during scoring draughts, it can sometimes pay off to take riskier shots.
“I would not say that [our] coach gave us clear instructions to shoot from a distance,” Whitfield said. “At times, CMS was defending us well and we saw that in the fourth quarter because we did not score … so I tried my luck from [a] distance. I am glad it went in. It was important for the team to go ahead in overtime.”
Whitfield’s goal from distance put the Sagehens up 10-8 with a little more than two minutes left on the clock in overtime, and it proved to make the difference. Kennedy managed to put one more shot in for CMS, adding to his four goals on the night, but it was not enough to overcome the Sagehens’ overtime spark.
CMS head coach Greg Lonzo commented on the loss, admitting that the Stags had failed to create better shot opportunities.
“It hasn’t been an easy game for us,” Lonzo said. “Pomona-Pitzer is a really good team and they showed that today. We made some poor decisions on our shots … sometimes we overpassed, sometimes we forced it. Our shot selection just wasn’t where it needed to be.”
The Stags’ shots were also in large part stifled by the Sagehens and the plans they devised before the game.
“Coming into the game, we knew their lefties were a big threat — they score a lot of goals,” Moore said. “So our plan was to shut them down early and not let them get comfortable. I think we did a great job keeping them off their rhythm and cutting off the passing lanes to their center.“
Head coach Alex Rodriguez of P-P commended his team’s effort in securing the hard-fought victory, while also stressing the importance of focusing on the SCIAC playoffs.
“I’m really proud of the way the guys fought tonight,” Rodriguez said. “Going into overtime takes a lot out of you. We’re still a young team, and we’ve got a lot to learn. We can’t afford to get comfortable … last year, we were in a similar position, but lost to Chapman in the playoffs.”
With the SCIAC playoffs marked on his calendar, Rodriguez was clear on the Sagehens’ season objectives.
“You’re not great until you actually win something, and that’s what we’re working toward,” Rodriguez said.
“You’re not great until you actually win something, and that’s what we’re working toward,” Rodriguez said.
Whitfield agreed that staying composed during tough games, which they managed to do against the Stags, will be important for the Hens as they finish their regular season.
“[Wednesday’s] victory was not a smooth sail,” Whitfield said. “We had to work hard both in defense and offense. Consistency is what helped us bounce back in overtime. It’s something we have to keep building on for the rest of the season.”
While the Sagehens continue to build from their win against CMS, Moore appreciated what the rivalry victory meant for him and his team.
“We have been thinking about this one all week,” Moore said. “Sixth Street is always a battle. Overtime shows how hard both sides fought, but we are glad that we won. Hopefully, this gives us confidence to believe in ourselves and keep competing for championships.”
Since the two faced off on Oct. 29, P-P has stayed on track and undefeated with a 10-0 SCIAC record, including victories against La Verne and Cal Lutheran, despite a defeat in an exhibition game against Golden West. CMS has followed suit, securing a victory over Whittier to improve to 8-1 in the conference.
The next competitor for both the Stags and Sagehens is the Chapman Panthers, who beat P-P in the SCIAC tournament last year. The Stags will host the Panthers on Nov. 8, while the Sagehens will travel on Nov. 12.
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