WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2025) – The Whittier College men's water polo team showed plenty of firepower on Wednesday night, going goal-for-goal with the nation's top-ranked Division III program before falling 14-19 to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Slade Aquatics Center in a SCIAC showdown.

The Stags entered as the No. 1 team in the CWPA Division III Top 10 Poll, but the Poets, ranked No. 5, matched them with 29 total shots and 14 goals. After a slow first quarter put Whittier in an early hole, the Purple & Gold responded with a 9-8 scoring run over the middle two periods to stay within striking distance. Senior captain Noah Bigara (Cape Town, South Africa / Pinnacle Schools) led the attack with a game-high four goals, while sophomore Zander Montoya (La Verne, Calif. / Damien) powered the offense with three goals and a team-best six assists. Freshman Alvaro Oliveros (Madrid, Spain / Saint Bernard School / CIS Endicott International) was efficient, scoring twice on just four attempts, and goalkeeper Lorenzo Angelucci (Pescara, Italy / Serie B) notched his first career NCAA goal while also recording seven saves in the cage.

Angelucci entered the night as the reigning SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week, adding to what has been a standout stretch for the sophomore. The Poets spread the wealth offensively with nine different players finding the back of the net or assisting on a score.

Whittier also dominated in the sprints, winning all four to maintain possession advantages throughout the night.

Despite the setback, the matchup showcased Whittier's offensive potential and resilience against the top-ranked team in the country. With the result, the Poets move to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in SCIAC play. Head Coach Preslav Djippov and Whittier now shift their focus to the Gary Troyer Tournament, hosted in Claremont, Calif., beginning Saturday, Oct. 4. The Poets open the event with a 10:15 a.m. matchup against Biola University (Calif.).