LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct 5, 2022)- The Poets were on the road tonight as they took on SCIAC foe, the Occidental Tigers, ultimately falling 13-12 on a buzzer-beating goal.

As the first opened, the Tigers quickly took the lead scoring less than 30 seconds into the match. Reigning SCIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Ricky Reyes Jr., would not let this lead last and tied the game at one about one minute later. This tie would not hold, however, as Oxy scored three unanswered goals to end the first with a 4-1 lead. 

The second started with much better defense for the Poets. They inched closer to the Tigers when Reyes scored his second goal of the game. They were then able to take advantage of a power play as Kaan Hamurculu netted his first goal of the day. Then, as time clicked down on the clock in the second, Tommy Baier made the score 5-4 Tigers on another power-play goal. 

The third began with two fast Whittier goals, allowing the Poets to take their first lead of the game, 6-5. The Tigers then tied the game, before Reyes put Whittier ahead, 7-6, the third power-play goal of the game for the Poets. The period would end knotted at seven. 

The Poets took an early lead in the fourth with another Baier goal. A costly penalty would allow Oxy to take advantage of a penalty shot and tie it at eight. The Tigers then began to pull away and scored three straight goals to make it 11-8. The Poets took a timeout, which gave Ben Ramans an opening for his first goal of the night. A great save by goalie Pierre-Louis Pinchaud then gave Reyes Jr. time to swim down the pool and put in his fourth ball of the game. Then the back and forth started as the teams traded goals and the score stood at 12-11 Oxy with one minute left. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Patrick Seelhorst scored his second goal of the game to tie the sore at 12 with 20 second left. The game was not over, however, as the Tigers unloaded a last-second shot, beating the buzzer for a 13-12 victory. 

The Poets once again were led by senior standout Reyes' four goals. Baier and Seelhorst also provided multiple goals, and Hamurculu contributed one goal, three assists and one steal.

Whittier fell to 1-2 in the conference with the heartbreaking loss. Its next chance comes this Saturday, the 8th, as Whittier hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 11 a.m.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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