Claremont, Calif. - Morgan McClafferty scored on a rebound in front of the cage with one second left in regulation as the Occidental Women's Water Polo team stunned Pomona-Pitzer 6-5 on Saturday morning at Haldeman Pool.
With the loss, the Sagehens fall to 15-13 overall and 2-1 in the SCIAC, while Occidental improves to 3-16 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Pomona-Pitzer had the ball with less than 30 seconds left after a Vicky Gyorffy steal and called a timeout. Gyorffy nearly snuck in behind the defense for the winning goal, but Occidental's defense got in the way just enough and her shot was saved by Sofie Munoz, her 15th of the match (including one on a five-meter shot).
Occidental was able to counter after the save and attempted a long shot from the right side of the pool. Junior goalie Sallie Walecka (pictured) was able to block it for her ninth save of the match, but McClafferty sprinted straight towards goal the whole way and was able to flip the ball into the empty net before Walecka had a chance to recover.
Alyssa Woodward had two goals for the Sagehens, while Mahalia Prater-Fahey, Hope Grant and Sarah Westcott each had one. Westcott's third period goal broke a 4-4 tie and almost held up the whole way, but Occidental's Koral Gill scored her third with 2:18 to play on a 6-on-5 to tie it up and set up the late dramatics.
Pomona-Pitzer will be back in action on Wednesday for a road match against Redlands.