EAGLE ROCK, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Men's Water Polo Team delivered a strong 16-12 victory over Occidental College on Wednesday evening, using a huge third period to seal the match. Keegan Coleman had a spectacular offensive performance with a hat trick and three assists while Noah Sasaki also scored three goals.

Season Impact: The Sagehens are now 15-9 overall and 6-2 in the SCIAC.

After a slow start to the opening period, the Tigers struck first with a goal by Nicolas Lipari just two minutes into the match. However, the Sagehens tied the match with a goal by Dylan Elliott off a pass by Coleman with 4:03 left in the period. The Sagehens quickly extended their lead with two goals within the final minute and half, courtesy of Coleman and Sasaki, respectively, to lead 3-1.

Jacob Niskey opened up the second period with a goal off a pass by Zach Senator just 30 seconds into the period. Later with a 5-3 lead, the Sagehens extended the advantage after Tim Mangan and Sam Gorcey-Biblowitz found the back of the net. The Tigers quickly took two back to cut the lead 7-5, but with a second left in the half, Joseph Schafer found Elliott on the power play for an insurance goal to extend the Sagehens' lead 8-5.

Schafer scored the first goal of the second half, scoring off a pass by Sam Sasaki a little over a minute into the third period. Coleman made it 10-5 on a power play goal off a pass by Schafer with 5:21 left in the period. After Daniel Cruz took one back for the Tigers, the Sagehens rallied with three straight goals to extend the lead 13-6. They closed the period with a 14-8 lead after outscoring the Tigers 6-3 in the third period. 

Occidental College tried to rally back in the final period, scoring two straight goals to start the final period, but a goal by Mangan off a pass by Senator seemingly sealed the match as the Sagehens held on for the victory.

Up Next: The Sagehens will next host Caltech on Saturday, October 26 at 11:00 a.m.