Michelle Loggia
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne men’s water polo team competed in the Claremont Convergence Tournament this weekend. The Leopards won three games and lost one over the two day period.
The Leopards played two games on Sunday, ending the tournament with a 9-8 victory against Johns Hopkins University. It was a close game, but the Leopards maintained a strong offense and tougher defense.
Freshman Steve Straiger made 18 saves against the bombardment of Johns Hopkins University’s offensive assault.
Junior Will Broer scored three times during the game and Barrett twice. Sophomore Darren Richards, freshman Seth Shelton, junior Jared Carvitto and junior Justin Haas each scored a goal. La Verne won, 9-8.
La Verne suffered their only defeat of the tournament against Harvard University, 8-7.
In the close game, Broer led the team in goals, putting four shots into the Harvard net. Freshman Seth Shelton scored two goals during the game. Straiger played major defense, saving 11 shots brought on by the Harvard offense.
“We did some things real nice. We played some good water polo,” head coach Tim Hugar said.
The Leopards also played an exciting game against the George Washington University Colonials, Sunday.
During the first period Carvitto scored the first goal of the game. George Washington University retaliated with a goal with two minutes left in the quarter.
Broer put the Leopards ahead with a throw over the GWU goalie’s head, ending the quarter with the Leopards ahead 2-3.
The Colonials tied the game with a goal shortly into the second quarter.
In retaliation, senior Owen Barrett scored with a hard shot and a bounce, putting the Leopards ahead once again.
The Colonials evened up the situation by scoring another goal, leaving the two teams tied, 3-3, into the second half.
The Leopards ended up tied after the third and fourth quarters as the Colonials matched them goal for goal, sending the game into two periods of overtime.
Carvitto and freshman Andrew McPartland each scored a goal during overtime.
GWU failed to score in overtime on a power play as a result of Haas’ ejection during the second period of overtime. The Leopards won the game, 8-6. Straiger made 10 saves in the contest.
“Winning this game in overtime showed a lot of strength and character,” Hugar said. “(George Washington University) played hard.
They did some physical stuff out there.”
In their game against Chaminade University Saturday, the Leopards won, 12-4.
Junior Will Broer put three shots past Chaminade’s goalie, while freshman Seth Shelton, junior Jared Carvitto and freshman Anthony Hernandez each scored two. Barrett, freshman Duncan Cox and McPartland scored one each.
Freshman goalie Steve Straiger made seven saves against the Chaminade offense and sophomore Casey Heinen made one save.
“Overall, I think we played well,” Heinen said.
Michelle Loggia can be reached at msloggia@aol.com.
