CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Whittier College men's water polo team picked up its fifth consecutive win on Saturday morning as they narrowly escaped with a 10-9 win over Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Pomona-Pitzer.

The Poets (14-9, 5-0 SCIAC) outscored the Sagehens in the first quarter 3-2 and at the end of the first half the Poets led 5-4.  The Poets came out tough in the third quarter allowing only 1 goal, while scoring 3 of their own to go up 8-5 going into the fourth.  The fourth quarter began and the Sagehens then quickly turned on the gas and scored 4 goals in the final period to Whittier's' 2 but it wasn't enough as the Poets held on for the 10-9 victory. 

The Poets were led by Rilesh Desai who recorded 4 assists, 4 goals (1 in 1st, 2 in 2nd,1 in 3rd, ), 5 drawn ejections and Alex Perry who recorded  1 assist, 3 goals (2 in 3rd, 1 in 4th), and 1 drawn ejection. 

In goal the Poets were led by Senior Casey Regehr who had 1 steal, 1 assist, and 13 saves in helping the Poets pull out their fifth consecutive victory.

The turning point in the game came in the third quarter when Desai passed into Perry at the 2m mark which he then tipped in to help the Poets go up 8-5.

This win was the second for Whittier as the new No. 1 team in the country.

The Poets then turned around after the win against Pomona-Pitzer to take on Mt. San Antonio College, where the Poets controlled the water from start to finish winning 9-4.  This was the Poets sixth consecutive win as they push their record to (14-9, 5-0 SCIAC). 

The Poets held Mt. Sac scoreless in the first quarter and went up 5-1 going into the half.  Coming out into the second half the Poets controlled the pace of the game scoring 4 goals while giving up 3.  But this was not enough as the Poets rolled to a 9-4 victory. 

The Poets were led by a multitude of players but Alex Perry came out firing recording 1 assist, 2 goals, 1 steal, and 2 drawn ejections. 

Casey Regehr started in goal for the Poets and played the first half making 11 saves.  Chris Maloney then came into the game in the third quarter and had 5 blocks including 1 that came from 5mtr.  Ryan Rock then came in, in the fourth quarter and had 3 saves and 1 steal.

This was the third win for Whittier as the new No. 1 team in the country.

The Poets return to action on Wednesday, November 4, as they face-off with the C-M-S Stags in their final regular season home game beginning at 4:00pm.