As time creeps towards the fabled Sixth Street Rivalry, CMS men’s soccer is remaining focused on consistency in performance.
The Stags have gotten off to a flying start this season, defeating the reigning national champions and compiling a 6-2-1 overall record so far. Despite losses to California Lutheran University and Whittier College, the Stags have looked convincing with several strong wins, one of which includes a 6-0 thumping of Bethesda University of California.
Yet, the biggest test of their season lies ahead. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Stags will travel down the road to face the Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) Sagehens in the latest rendition of the Sixth Street Rivalry. On Sept. 30 of last year, CMS sank P-P 2-1, punctuated with a goal from Rafael Otero CM ’25.
However, it was P-P who got the last laugh. Coming into the second game of last year’s season as the clear underdogs, the Sagehens shocked CMS, defeating them 3-1.
Since Oct. 25, 2023, the Sagehens have held the Sixth Street trophy and the bragging rights that come with it. This season, the Stags are eager to reclaim their lost trophy.
Until then, however, the Stags must wait. A short season in a highly competitive SCIAC league means that every game matters, regardless of the occasion.
And the Stags proved that, in a tense, back-and-forth showdown under the lights of Pritzlaff Field on Wednesday, Sept. 25, where the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) men’s soccer team clawed their way to a 2-0 victory over the University of Redlands.
The fiercely contested SCIAC matchup propelled the Stags to a 6-1-1 overall record and 2-1 conference play record going into the weekend, giving them early momentum in the season.
With a scoreless game deep into the second half, both teams looked for opportunities to capitalize but struggled to find openings. CMS controlled possession for much of the game, but the Redlands defense was resolute.
According to Gray Mollenkamp CM ’26, the Bulldogs played a defensive game and made it hard for CMS to create clear chances, leading to a long scoreless stretch.
“Redlands was sitting back quite a bit, relying on set pieces. It was hard for us to break them down,” Mollenkamp said. “We were nervous and frustrated, but once the first goal went in, we played with more fluidity.”
The Stags found their breakthrough with 17 minutes left against Redlands when James Gomez CM ’27 hit a 25-yard strike off the post.
The breakthrough came after several close calls, including a shot off the crossbar from Shaan Malik CM ’26 in the 63rd minute. Gomez’s goal came after a quick pass from Rafael Otero CM ’25 just outside the box.
Four minutes later, CMS extended their lead when John Laidlaw CM ’26 headed in a cross from Jacoby Lockman HM ’25 to make it 2-0. This was Laidlaw’s third goal in three games after his recent return from injury.
“Redlands always puts up a great fight,” Laidlaw said. “But this win was special. It was our first victory against them since I’ve been here. The team really put in the work to secure the clean sheet.”
The physicality of the game was clear from the beginning; CMS received 12 fouls while Redlands racked up eight, the referee having to issue multiple yellow cards as tensions escalated.
“Anytime you get two evenly matched teams like this, there’s going to be a lot of passion,” Tommy Brown CM ’25 said. “Emotions can spill over into aggression and frustration.”
Stags’ goalkeeper Miles Demarest CM ’27 recorded five critical saves, helping the CMS defense remain rock solid throughout the match. Redlands had a slight edge in corner kicks, leading 6-5, but was unable to convert any of their chances into goals.
According to Laidlaw, the CMS team is building on their momentum as they prepare for upcoming SCIAC matches.
“Every game is a big game,” he said. “Whether it’s Redlands or Whittier, we’re taking every match with the same intensity.”
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