Box Score WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2024) – Freshman
Zander Montoya (La Verne, Calif. / Damien) of the Whittier College men's water polo team was not the only Whittier player to perform well against Occidental College on Wednesday, but the one who came away with the game-winning goal against the Tigers.
With Whittier having ceded games to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges and the University of Redlands, the Poets sought to prove they are not a team to be forgotten from the top of the conference. In the game's early going, it seemed the Poets might come away with the statement they needed, opening the game with fast three goals from three different players. However, the resilient visitors, who own a win over CMS, swiftly fought back and made it a game once again.
Senior
Relja Mitic (La Verne, Calif. / Damien) opened scoring for Whittier and tied for the team lead with three goals. In the game's early going, it looked like Mitic was going to be difficult to stop with two of his goals coming on tough plays in the first half. However, the Tigers made adjustments that paid the way for other players to step up. Those players ended up being Montoya, who finished the game with three assists to go with his two goals, and freshman
Ivan Cubelic (Split, Croatia / Solaris), who tied Mitic with a trio of goals.
As much as Whittier attempted to pull ahead, however, Oxy never went away. In crunch time, the Poets found the game tied off another Tigers comeback, paving the way for Montoya to once again deliver with a clutch shot from the left side to give Whittier an 11-10 lead. Whittier would win the game 12-11, effectively running out the clock to eliminate the Tigers' potential comeback opportunities. Though he scored three goals, Cubelic had little issue threatening the Tigers with his shot, earning 10 shot attempts throughout the match. Additionally, freshman goalkeeper
Loronzo Angolucci (Pescara, Italy / Serie B) had another strong game in net, stopping eight Occidental shots.
Head Coach Preslav Djippov and the Poets will head back out on the road on Saturday, Nov. 19 to first play Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in another big SCIAC game before taking on Ottawa Arizona University later in the day at Haldemann Pool.
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