CLAREMONT, Calif. – James Baker scored seven goals and the No. 16 Pomona-Pitzer Men's Water Polo team pulled away late, beating the La Verne Leopards 14-11 Wednesday night.
Season Impact: The Sagehens win their seventh straight game and improve to 15-7 overall and 4-0 in SCIAC play.
La Verne drops to 4-15 overall and 2-2 in the SCIAC.
The Leopards jumped out to an early lead after three goals by Rey Julian Castilla. But two goals by Riley Mangan kept the Sagehens within one, trailing 4-3 at the end of the period.
In the second, Adam Ward pulled the game even at 4-4 and James Baker capitalized off a steal and beat the goalie one-on-one. Two more goals by Ward, and another by Baker, gave the Sagehens a 7-4 advantage heading into the break.
La Verne pulled the game even again in third, but Baker gave Pomona-Pitzer an 8-7 lead scoring on a penalty shot with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter. Castilla brought the gave even again, scoring two minutes later and the Leopards added a couple more goals taking a 10-8 lead into the final period.
Baker came in huge again for the Sagehens tying the game at 10-10 with 5:33 left in the game and then giving the Sagehens the lead a minute later. Jacob Niskey tacked on another goal for Pomona-Pitzer and the Sagehens pulled away with the 14-11 win.
Daniel Diemer finished the game with 13 saves and Ward finished with four goals.
The Leopards were led by Castilla who finished with eight goals.
Up Next: The Sagehens next host the Redlands Bulldogs in a battle of the top two teams in the SCIAC. The Bulldogs are currently 14-10 overall and 3-0 SCIAC play. Game time is set for Saturday at 11 a.m.
