THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – After a strong regular season, Cal Lutheran women's water polo enters the 2026 SCIAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will travel to Claremont for a semifinal matchup with No. 2 seed Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Thursday night.
The tournament began Tuesday with No. 4 Chapman defeating No. 5 Whittier, 16-12. Thursday's semifinal winners will advance to Saturday's championship match, hosted by the highest remaining seed.
THE REGALS
Cal Lutheran closed the regular season at 14-11 overall, but its 10-2 mark in SCIAC play underscored its standing among the conference's elite. The Regals' only conference losses came against the top two seeds, positioning them squarely in the title conversation entering postseason play.
Offensively, Cal Lutheran has been one of the league's most consistent groups, averaging 12.2 goals per game on an efficient .424 shooting percentage. The attack is balanced and dynamic, capable of generating scoring from multiple positions.
Freshman utility
Aleaha Gonzalez has been a breakout force, earning SCIAC Newcomer of the Year honors while ranking among the conference leaders with 25 goals and 37 points in league play. Senior attacker
Lauren Lohmeier has provided a steady scoring presence, leading the team with 34 goals, while graduate goalkeeper
Izzy de Souza anchors the defense with a .579 save percentage and veteran leadership in the cage.
With experience, efficiency, and postseason urgency on its side, Cal Lutheran enters the tournament looking to break through against the conference's top tier.
THE FIELD
#2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
The Athenas (14-11, 10-2 SCIAC) mirror Cal Lutheran in conference record, with both of their losses coming against top-seeded Pomona-Pitzer. CMS returns to the postseason with significant pedigree after finishing as the national runner-up at last year's USA Water Polo Division III Championship.
Averaging 11.8 goals per game on a .434 shooting clip, CMS thrives on efficiency and late-game execution. The Athenas are particularly dangerous in the fourth quarter, where they have consistently separated from opponents.
Senior attacker Grace Clark and junior Valerie Wraith headline the offense as two of the conference's premier scoring threats, while a disciplined defensive structure complements their attack. Hosting the semifinal, CMS will look to leverage both its experience and home-pool advantage.
#1 Pomona-Pitzer
Pomona-Pitzer (18-15, 12-0 SCIAC) enters the tournament as the top seed and the conference's dominant force, extending its unbeaten SCIAC streak while capturing another regular-season title.
The Sagehens lead the conference offensively at 12.7 goals per game and pair that production with a balanced defensive effort. Senior center Ayva Magna anchors the attack, supported by a deep and versatile lineup that produced six All-SCIAC selections.
Pomona also brings championship pedigree, having won the 2025 USA Water Polo Division III national title. Despite their perfect conference record, the Sagehens were tested in non-conference play, including a narrow loss to CMS, signaling potential parity at the top of the bracket.
They will host No. 4 Chapman in Thursday's semifinal.
#4 Chapman
Chapman (13-11, 8-4 SCIAC) advanced through the opening round and now faces the top-seeded Sagehens. The Panthers average 11.1 goals per game and shoot .395 as a team.
Chapman is known for its fast starts, often producing its strongest offensive output in the opening period. Kendall Pappan leads the attack, while goalkeeper Zoey Francis provides stability defensively.
Cal Lutheran defeated Chapman 9-6 during the regular season, a result that could loom large should the teams meet again in the championship round.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Semifinals – Thursday, April 16
#1 Pomona-Pitzer vs. #4 Chapman – 7 p.m.
#2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps vs. #3 Cal Lutheran – 7 p.m.
Final – Saturday, April 18
Highest remaining seeds – 11 a.m.
Tickets are $10 (plus fees) online or $10 on-site. SCIAC students, faculty and staff with institutional ID and children 12 and under are admitted free.
