CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Pomona-Pitzer men's water polo team started the 2025 Gary Troyer Tournament with a pair of losses to Division I teams with a 15-7 loss to California Baptist and an 14-8 loss to UC San Diego Friday at Haldeman Pool.
Season Impact: With the losses, the Sagehens continue their season to 7-8 overall and 3-0 in SCIAC play.
Pomona-Pitzer 7, California Baptist 15
The Sagehens were led by
Jake Lee,
Indigo Lee,
Darragh Flanders,
Max Distaso,
Zach Whitfield,
Tommy Ryan, and
Jaden Winters who each netted one goal against the Lancers.
Pomona-Pitzer started off well against California Baptist with three first half goals including two goals in the first and one in the second quarter. Distaso started the scoring with 5:23 left on the clock in the first quarter. Winters followed his lead with another goal with 0:38 left on the clock and tied the score. The period finished in a competitive tie 2-2. In the second quarter, the California Baptist offense broke through the Sagehen defense and secured a sizeable lead. Still, Flanders managed to net a goal with 0:43 left on the clock and tried to catch up Pomona-Pitzer. The Sagehens entered the second half down to the Lancers 8-3.
The Sagehens continued to bring the energy in the second half as they secured four more goals in the third and fourth quarters. Lee and Ryan each netted goals with 6:22 and 5:41 left on the clock and brought the score to 5-8. However, the Lancers continued to break though the Pomona-Pitzer defense and the third quarter finished with the Sagehens still down 5-11.
Pomona-Pitzer continued its effort in the fourth quarter by scoring two more goals from Whitfield and Lee that left them behind 14-7. The Sagehens brought a competitive effort throughout the game but still fell to California Baptist 15-7.
Pomona-Pitzer 8, UC San Diego 14
The Sagehens were led by
Darragh Flanders and
Alden Pfau who each netted two goals throughout the game.
Chase Barman,
Ryan Kreutzkamp,
Conrad Hugar, and
Jaden Winters each also netted a goal.
Pomona-Pitzer put up a good effort early with three first half goals including two in the first and one in the second quarter. UC San Diego struck first but Pfau attempted to catch the Sagehens up by netting a goal with 3:58 left on the clock. Kreutzkamp followed suit and tied the game at 2-2 by netting a goal with 2:50 left on the clock. However, the Tritons continued to break through the Pomona-Pitzer defense and found a notable lead. The first quarter concluded with the Sagehens behind 7-2.
In the second quarter, Barman secured a penalty goal with 1:48 left on the clock. Still, the US San Diego lead furthered as they persisted to breach Pomona-Pitzer defense. The Sagehens entered halftime behind 11-3.
The Sagehens powered through the second half and managed to secure five goals in the third and fourth quarters. Pfau started the scoring in the second half by netting a goal with Winters following his lead. Flanders then scored back-to-back goals with 2:23 and 1:19 left on the clock. Pomona-Pitzer finished the third quarter behind the Tritons 13-7. In the fourth period, Hugar secured another goal for the Sagehens during a powerplay with 7:03 left on the clock. Pomona-Pitzer played well through the end of the game with various opportunities to shoot but still could not find an edge as they fell to UC San Diego 14-8.
Up Next: The Sagehens will continue the Gary Troyer Tournament tomorrow when they face Concordia University Irvine on Saturday, October 4th at 10:15 a.m. PT, then Biola at 4:30 p.m. PT.
