PASADENA, Calif. – The Connecticut
College water polo squad held down Caltech 11-9 Thursday afternoon
in non-conference action at the Braun Pool.
The matchup was competitive throughout. The Camels took an early
2-0 lead they would never relinquish, and though an early strike
during a 6-on-5 for Adam Khan brought
the Beavers within one, and Junior Dan Sexton skipped the ball in
on another 6-on-5 opportunity to bring the game to 4-2, it was not
the good omen the Beavers had hoped for.
The Beavers would score just one more goal on extra-man chances
in nine opportunities, which stifled any hopes of a late-game
comeback. They finished the day 3-for-12 on such opportunities. Jack
Blackwood would score the first of his three goals with 28
seconds left in the first quarter to cut the Beavers deficit to
one, but Jason Robb scored his only goal of the match at the end of
the period to leave Caltech frustrated and down 5-3 after the first
quarter.
The second and third periods saw the Connecticut lead stretch to
10-6, as the Beavers continually drew but couldn't capitalize on
6-on-5 opportunities. Clayton Whitter ruled the day in the net for
the Camels, as he finished with 11 saves, none bigger than a stuff
of a one-on-nobody in the fourth quarter that could have brought
the Beavers to within two goals.
It was that fourth period where the Beavers finally showed signs
of life. Despite finishing the period only 1-of-3 on extra-man
opportunities, Senior Paul Fleiner
scored his first goal of the season, and Blackwood scored a pair to
bring the game to 11-9, where it would remain at the final buzzer.
Sam Mitchell led all Camels with three goals.
Thompson Heavey shined in goal for Caltech, finishing with 10
saves and three steals in only three quarters of work, while Khan
not only scored three, but his lockdown center defense forced the
Camels into an unorthodox attack. Dan Sexton scored a pair of
goals, but also drew five exclusions for the Beavers.
The next home match for the Beavers comes on Sunday October 17th
at 4:00 p.m. vs. Chapman University
