CLAREMONT, Calif. – Cal Lutheran men's water polo went toe-to-toe with Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday morning, matching the national runner-up for nearly the entirety of four periods before ultimately falling 14-11 at Haldeman Pool.
The Kingsmen (3-7, 0-1 SCIAC) opened conference play with an early statement, trading goals with one of the nation's top teams throughout the opening three periods. Cal Lutheran held multiple leads and entered the final period within striking distance before Pomona-Pitzer pulled away late.
Paul Patterson opened the scoring just 55 seconds into the contest, and
Max Gerdeman answered a Pomona-Pitzer goal to put the Kingsmen back in front, 2-1. After the Sagehens evened the score, the defensive battle continued as the teams entered the second tied at 2-2.
Each side found the back of the net just once in the second quarter, as Gerdeman scored his second of the morning midway through the period to give the Kingsmen another lead. Pomona-Pitzer answered right back to send the game into halftime tied at 3-3.
Patterson struck early as the pace picked up considerably in the third, followed by goals from
Levi Cook and Gerdeman as Cal Lutheran briefly surged in front. Pomona-Pitzer responded with a trio of goals to regain the lead, but the Kingsmen continued to answer.
Merrick Giles found the back of the net with 13 seconds remaining in the period, keeping Cal Lutheran within one heading into the final eight minutes.
Ceasar Nava wasted little time tying the game at 8-8 to open the fourth, but Pomona-Pitzer then rattled off three consecutive goals to create its largest lead of the morning.
The Kingsmen refused to go quietly, with Patterson adding two more goals in the period and Cook finding the net once more, but Pomona-Pitzer held on down the stretch to secure the 14-11 victory.
Patterson led the Kingsmen with four goals and two assists, while Gerdeman added three goals and an assist. Cook turned in an all-around performance with two goals and a team-high four assists, while
Jacob Taff anchored the defense in the cage with nine saves.
The Kingsmen will return to action Wednesday, September 30, traveling to Occidental for a 7 p.m. SCIAC matchup. Cal Lutheran will then return home Thursday, October 1, for its first official home game of the season, hosting UC Merced to begin the final stretch of nonconference action.
