Water polo enters into tourney with high goals

by Danny Craig
Sports Editor

As the University of La Verne men’s water polo team enters the Claremont Convergence today, the Leopards have the opportunity to better their current No. 16 national ranking.

Despite the 8-6 defeat to Loyola Marymount University on Wednesday, men’s water polo’s (6-4) chances for a successful season are at hand with with upcoming tournament and league competition.

The Leopards first matchup at the Convergence today will be against Brown University at 1:30 p.m. Although without a national ranking, the Bears enter the competition with a 6-11 record. Brown will be coming off a 2-2 performance from a conference tournament at St. Francis College in New York.

The Leopards next bout will be at 7 p.m. against St. Francis College of New York. The Terriers present themselves to be the Leopards’ stiffest competition holding the No. 13 national spot after a 24-12 victory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Sunday. St. Francis currently has a 17-2 record.

Saturday’s play will start for the Leopards at 10:30 a.m. as they face Iona College. After a 15-8 victory over Fordham College on Oct. 3, the Gaels earned themselves an 8-4 record before continuing exhibition play.

ULV’s final match will bring its first western opposition when the Leopards will take on Chaminade University of Honolulu. After facing early season competition, the Silver Swords enter the tournament with a 5-3 overall record.

After the conclusion of the the Convergence, ULV will return to its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule where the Leopards sit at No. 1.

ULV will travel to the University of Redlands on Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs will try and answer to their previous 8-6 defeat to the Leopards from Sept. 10 at the UC San Diego tournament.

Danny Craig

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