WHITTIER, Calif. – Poets men's water polo hosted Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at the Slade Aquatics Center on Saturday and fell 12-7. Jason Dickson scored three goals to lead the Poets, while Mike Hale recorded 11 saves.
Daniel Totev opened the scoring with a power-play goal just 29 seconds into the contest. CMS answered midway through the first quarter, but Evan Borunda converted another man-up opportunity with 1:57 remaining to give Whittier a 2-1 lead entering the second.
The Stags scored twice early in the second quarter to move ahead 3-2. Dickson responded with a penalty goal at the 5:11 mark to pull the Poets even. CMS regained the lead 13 seconds later and carried a 4-3 advantage into halftime.
Two power-play goals to begin the third quarter extended the Stags' lead to 6-3, but Whittier rallied with three unanswered scores. Dickson struck at 5:41 and again at 4:54 to complete his hat trick before Ivan Cardenas tied the game at 6-6 with 1:40 remaining.
CMS answered with two goals to reclaim an 8-6 edge. Louis Hacket brought the Poets within one on a power-play finish with seven seconds left, but the Stags scored with one second on the clock to take a 9-7 lead into the fourth.
Whittier was held scoreless in the final period as CMS added three goals to secure the victory.
Totev finished with a goal and two assists, while Cardenas added a goal and a team-high two steals. Borunda and Hacket each contributed a goal.
The Poets return to SCIAC play on Saturday, Nov. 7, traveling to Pomona-Pitzer for an 11 a.m. matchup in Claremont. Catch all the action on FloCollege.
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