CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Men's Water Polo team earned their first USA Water Polo Division III National Championship with their 13-12 overtime win over Sixth Street Rival CMS on Sunday afternoon at Haldeman Pool.
The Sagehens end the season at 27-8 overall en route to a SCIAC Regular Season Championship, SCIAC Tournament Championship and the Division III National Championship.
The Sagehens were led by Benjamin Sasaki who led the way with four goals including the game-winner in overtime. Sam Sasaki also had a hat-trick with three goals while Noah Sasaki ended with two and Kyle Green, Dylan Elliott, Matija Jancic, and Adam Gross each chipped in with one. Kellan Grant got the win inside goal for the Sagehens and had a big day with 17 saves and the biggest save of his career in the final seconds of the game.
The Sagehens had 35 shots with a .371 shot percentage while CMS took 36 shots and hit at a .333 clip. CMS struggled converting their powerplay opportunities going 1-7 while the Sagehens hit on 6 of their 11 powerplay chances.
The Stags controlled the game early on with back-to-back goals to open the first quarter. The Sagehens didn't get on the board until Noah Sasaki scored three minutes and then Gross followed with a goal to even the score at 2-2. CMS made sure they stayed on top with a goal to end the first quarter to take a 3-2 advantage into the second.
Noah Sasaki started the scoring again for the Sagehens in the second with a game-tying goal, but CMS continued to stay on top as they alternated goals with the Sagehens to stay one goal ahead. CMS took a 6-5 lead with 1:43 left to play in the first half, but the Sagehens evened the score on their last possession of the first half with a goal by Jancic to go into halftime tied at 6-6.
The Stags came out of halftime and took over the game in the third quarter. CMS scored three-straight goals out of halftime to take their largest lead of the game at 9-6 with 4:06 left in the third and forced Pomona-Pitzer to take a timeout. The Sagehens stopped the bleeding with a goal from Ben Sasaki, but CMS kept the lead at three with a goal on their next possession. The Sagehens were able to shave one goal off the deficit as they scored two of the final three goals of the third from Sam Sasaki and Elliott to head into the fourth down 11-9.
The Sagehens began to make their comeback in the fourth as they won the sprint and Ben Sasaki brought them to within one goal at 11-10. Sam Sasaki followed his brother with a big goal to get even and then Green found the back of the net for the go-ahead goal and the first lead of the game at 12-11 for the Sagehens with 4:45 left to play. CMS tied the game with 4:33 left to go in the fourth and after both teams failed to convert on late chances, the National Championship was headed to overtime.
Both teams failed to score in the first overtime period as the defenses stepped up and wouldn't let anyone inside for an easy goal opportunity. The game-deciding goal came with 2:33 left in the second overtime period as Elliott flipped the ball to Ben Sasaki who rifled a ball into the back of the net to give the Sagehens a 13-12 lead. The Stags had a chance to score late as they had the last possession of the game, but Grant came up with a huge save in the final seconds and the Sagehens held on for their first USA Water Polo Collegiate National Championship.
