by Ryan Allen
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The University of La Verne men’s water polo team is setting the pace for its opponents as it went 2-0 last week, improving its record to 11-8 overall and 2-1 in SCIAC, with victories over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Saturday, 12-8, and Caltech, 23-6, Wednesday.
“Obviously, we want to control the pace,” said Tim Hugar, head coach. “When we’re playing our best, usually we can control it.”
At CMS, La Verne took an early 1-0 lead, shutting its opponent out in the first quarter. ULV extended its advantage and finished the first half leading 4-2.
The third quarter was all La Verne as it extended the lead 9-5, which included a two-point goal by junior Corey Rodriguez with 1:58 left in the quarter.
CMS would close the gap in the fourth quarter, 7-9, until junior Shannon Kay scored another two-point goal for ULV with 2:59 left in the game.
The Leopards picked up the pace once again as they blew the game open at Caltech with a 13-5 half time lead. In the third quarter, ULV outscored Caltech, 6-1, including a goal by junior Jace Crispin, who finished the game with four goals and muscled the ball away from the Caltech goal keeper and followed up with a goal with 4:43 left in the quarter.
Sophomore Ian Gratz also scored one of his four goals by launching the ball of the top of the goal post which in turn ricocheted off the back of Caltech’s goal keeper’s outstretched arms and finally bounced in with 14 seconds left in the quarter.
Junior goalkeeper Mike Miles blocked a Caltech penalty shot with 1:13 left in the quarter. Miles finished the match with 11 saves.
The Leopards shut out Caltech in the fourth quarter and finally won the game, 23-6.
Journalism operations manager at the University of La Verne. Production manager and business manager of the Campus Times.
