Box Score Photo by: Jeremy Kniffin
CLAREMONT, Calif. – It has been three years since the Whittier College Men's Soccer team has earned a win on the road against Pomona-Pitzer. The last dating back to 2012 when the Purple & Gold won 4-1 in the semi-finals of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament.
Wednesday evening, the Poets again found a win on the road but this time blanking the Sagehens 2-0 as they improve to 3-1-1, 2-0-1 SCIAC. With the loss Pomona-Pitzer drops to 1-3-1, 1-2 SCIAC.
"Tonight was a real team effort against a good Pomona team", explained Head Coach Shea Harwell. "We were mentally tough, committed to our team tactics, and had a hard work ethic. We had several standout players, but Ryan Wood (Wilsmslow, England) and Jacob Schaniel (San Diego, Calif.) both had brilliant goals tonight. Rudy Cessna (Anaheim, Calif.), Pablo Gomez (Cardiff by the Sea), and Jorge Rivas (Lake Forest, Calif.) had an outstanding night earning the shutout."
Wood who was coming off a hat trick against Caltech continued his scoring streak breaking the scoreless deadlock in the 62nd minute as he took a quick pass in the box from Gomez which he connected past Sagehen keeper Ben Mitchell from 12 yards out along the right side of the box.
With 10:03 left, the Poets stretched their lead to two when sophomore Schaniel got a Sagehen clearance from just outside the box, which he blasted from 30 yards out into the upper-left corner, which sealed the victory for WC.
Pomona-Pitzer had a couple opportunities in the game to get on the scoreboard, once in each half but both shots would graze the outside of the post one on a tight angle from Voja Maric and the other on a header from Felipe Galvis.
Tomas Negritto also had a look in the first half when he toe-poked the ball towards the net in traffic at the top of the six-yard box, but Whittier keeper Rivas was able to deflect it with his shin to keep it from crossing the line.
Rivas totaled four saves in his third victory on the season, while completing his second shutout.
Wood finished with three shots with two being on frame, while James Suri (Lake Forest, Calif.) collected three himself with one being on goal.
Whittier held the advantage on shots 15-14, but saw PP earn 13 corner kicks compared to their six.
Whittier has a strong test this Saturday, September 19 as they travel to Claremont-M-S to take on the Stags beginning at 7:00pm.
