CLAREMONT, Calif. – The magic number was 12 for the Whittier College men's water polo team who went 2-0 on the first day of the Lancer Invite on Friday afternoon behind two, dozen-goal efforts against Concordia (Cal.) and La Verne.

The Poets (5-6) needed all 32 minutes of regulation and then some to down No. 12 Concordia, 12-11, in the first game of the day. Rilesh Desai scored a team-high six goals in the win over the Eagles but none was bigger than his game tying score with 46 seconds left in the game.

Wes Paulson added the eventual game winner at the 1:26 mark of the first overtime to give Whittier its first win over a Varsity Top 20 team on the season.

The reigning Western Water Polo Player of the Week, Erick Gonzalez, started the scoring with his first of four on the day at 7:27 of the first frame. Concordia answered with goals at 6:55 and 5:50, respectively, to take a 2-1 lead but Desai and Keary Schlactus went back-to-back to give the purple and gold a 3-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Eagles took momentum in the second quarter as they outscored the Poets 4-1. Concordia built on its lead early in the third stanza and held as large as an 8-4 lead with 4:45 left in the quarter. The Poets' comeback bid began with a Desai goal at 4:24 to trim the deficit to three goals. Gonzalez pulled Whittier within two at 3:22 and Desai made it a one possession game at 8-7 at the 2:44 mark.

The Eagles stopped the 3-0 Whittier run with a goal at 2:21 but Desai ended the third quarter with a goal at 48 seconds to make the score 9-8 after three.

Desai scored again to open the final quarter of regulation and Gonzalez scored just 27 seconds later to put the Poets ahead, 10-9. The lead was short lived as the tying Eagles' goal came at 4:32. The go-ahead strike came with just 1:03 on the clock.

After a timeout followed the Concordia goal, the purple and gold drew up the tying goal that went to Desai at the 46 second mark. The senior from Commerce, Calif., added one assist and four drawn ejections in the win.

Gonzalez finished with four goals, two assists, three drawn ejections and one steal.

Chad Evenrud made 17 saves in the win which includes three in the overtime periods. With only three minutes on the clock in each overtime period, possession are limited and Michael Eachus took an extra offensive look away from the Eagles with a win on the sprint in the second overtime.

The Poets turned around in the nightcap and put a 12-spot back on the board while holding the Leopards to five goals. Desai added four goals in the win over La Verne and had three assists. Gonzalez scored three goals with one assist, Chris Sazo added a goal and assist, Schlactus had a goal, Joey Kienle scored for the Poets, Paulson put one in the back of the net and Asante Sefa-Boakye registered a goal in the victory.

Whittier led 6-2 at the intermission and outscored La Verne 6-3 in the second half en route to the seven-goal win.

Evenrud made 14 saves against ULV.

The Poets return to action tomorrow afternoon with games against Occidental and Riverside.