WHITTIER, Calif. – The Poets faced off against Pomona-Pitzer and were bested 13-8 on Wednesday night. Whittier battled throughout the contest, but the Sagehens pulled away in the fourth period with five goals.
Pomona-Pitzer opened the scoring with a penalty shot to take a 1-0 lead. Jason Dickson answered for the Poets, tying the game at 1-1 with just over two minutes remaining in the first period. Just 30 seconds later, the Sagehens regained the advantage, 2-1, on a power-play opportunity. Whittier entered the second period trailing by one after a closely contested opening frame.
After a slow start to the second, Pomona-Pitzer extended its lead to 3-1. Sebastian Cadena responded moments later, cutting the deficit to one at 3-2. Another converted power play from the Sagehens restored their two-goal advantage. With only three seconds on the clock, Cadena netted his second goal of the night, bringing Whittier within one at 4-3.
Both teams came out firing in the third, exchanging four goals in the opening two minutes. Pedro Carvalho and Zander Huynh scored for the Poets to keep them within one at 6-5. Pomona-Pitzer extended its lead to 7-5, but 26 seconds later, Tal Fotin found the back of the cage to narrow the margin to 7-6. Despite scoring three times in the period, Whittier entered the fourth trailing by two, 8-6.
Dickson ripped a penalty shot into the back of the cage to begin the final period, trimming the Sagehens' lead to 8-7. Two consecutive goals from Pomona-Pitzer created a three-goal advantage at 10-7. Huynh converted a power-play opportunity, bringing Whittier back within two. Down the stretch, the Sagehens took control and closed the game with three unanswered goals to secure the victory.
Cadena, Dickson and Huynh each finished with two goals, while Daniel Totev recorded three assists. On the defensive end, goalkeeper Mike Hale made 12 saves, and Dickson posted two steals.
The Poets will play next against the CMS Stags in Claremont on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m.
