WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College men's water polo team hosted the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen in a tightly contested SCIAC matchup. Despite trailing by three goals, the Poets battled back late in the game before ultimately falling 12-11.

Cal Lutheran struck first, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead. Sebastian Cadena put Whittier on the board with 4:21 remaining, cutting the deficit to one. With just under a minute left in the opening period, the Kingsmen found the back of the net to take a 3-1 advantage into the break.

Cal Lutheran extended its lead to 4-1 with the first goal of the second period. The Poets responded with consecutive scores from Evan Borunda and Jason Dickson, narrowing the gap to 4-3. With 37 seconds remaining, the Kingsmen answered, but Daniel Totev scored just 18 seconds later, bringing Whittier within one at halftime, 5-4.

Pedro Carvalho opened the second half with a goal, tying the contest at 5-5 for the first time since the opening sprint. Cal Lutheran reclaimed the advantage before Dickson responded to even the score at 6-6. The Kingsmen then found the back of the net twice in succession to move ahead 8-6. Totev brought Whittier back within one with just under two minutes remaining, but Cal Lutheran added another goal with six seconds on the clock to take a 9-7 edge into the fourth.

The Kingsmen pushed their lead to three at the start of the final period, putting the Poets behind 10-7. Borunda, Zander Huynh and Louis Hackett each scored as Whittier mounted a three-goal rally, knotting the game at 10-10. Cal Lutheran answered with two goals of its own to regain a 12-10 advantage. Dickson completed his hat trick with 17 seconds remaining, but the Poets could not find the equalizer before time expired.

Dickson led Whittier's offense with three goals, while Totev and Borunda added two apiece. Dickson and Totev also tallied an assist each.

The Poets will take on Cypress College on Friday, Oct. 23, at the Lillian Slade Aquatics Center. The opening sprint is set for 5 p.m.

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