CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Poets wrapped up
play at the Lancer Invite on Saturday afternoon with an 8-6 win
over Occidental and a 12-9 loss to Riverside Community College to
push its record to 3-1 for the two-day tournament.
The Poets (6-7) jumped out a 2-0 lead at the end of the first
quarter on Occidental and held a 5-1 advantage at the
intermission.
Wes Paulson scored both the first frame goals
for the Poets at 5:24 and 3:21, respectively. The Tigers got on the
board early in the second quarter but Erick Gonzalez and Will Jackson put the Poets
up by four at halftime.
Gonzalez's goal came at 3:53 while Jackson scored at 1:57
and with one second left on the clock.
Occidental scored at 1:52 of the third quarter but
Rilesh Desai added his lone score of the afternoon
just 13 seconds later. Gonzalez scored at 1:01 of the third and a
few moments later, a goal by the Tigers made the score 7-3 after
three.
OXY was able to outscore the Poets 3-1 in the final eight
minutes but it was too little, too late. Gonzalez added his third
of the game to end a 2-0 Occidental run.
In the night cap the Poets held a 9-8 lead at the end of three
quarters but was outscored 4-0 in the final frame. Paulson and
Chris Sazo provided the first quarter scoring for
the Poets while Gonzalez and Lincoln Haley scored
all six of the second and third quarter goals for Whittier.
Chad Evenrud was recorded as stopping 14 shots
against Riverside. He had seven saves in the third quarter.
The Poets will return to action in two weeks as it takes part in
the Claremont Convergence Tournament.
