PASADENA, Calif. — Caltech Men's Water Polo hosted Citrus College on Wednesday in the Beavers' first home matchup of the 2023 season. The contest proved itself a high-level affair, with both teams battling in a game that came down to the final few minutes of action.

The visitors would strike first in the clash, though Caltech quickly evened the score; at the 6:27 mark of the opening period, sophomore center Bram Schork found the back of the net after being fed the ball from first-year attacker Justin Hong.

After finding themselves in a 3-1 hole at the end of the first quarter, the team would earn three impressive goals to tie the match at 4-4 at the 2:24 mark of the second period. A goal from Hong on the next possession would put the Beavers up one score before the two teams traded goals throughout much of the third quarter.

Citrus would go up 9-8 at the 1:28 mark in the third, though Caltech responded with a well-placed goal from first-year utility Axel Haydt and another from Hong to take the 10-9 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Owls would tie score at the 6:27 mark in the period before pushing ahead and holding onto the lead as the buzzer expired.

Six different players scored for Caltech; Hong led the way with three. First-year attacker Alexi Stapf led all players in assists, with three.

In goal, sophomore Sujit Iyer notched a team-high three steals. He saved six shots.

The Beavers recorded 32 shots to the visitors' 28; their ten goals scored is the second-most for the group this season.

Next up for Caltech is a road matchup versus Mt. San Antonio College on Friday, Sep. 8 at 4 p.m. The team will then return home for their second home game of the year as they host the Chaffey College Panthers on Friday, Sep. 15 at 3 p.m. Come cheer on the Beavers in-person or watch online at gocaltech.com/live.

Follow Caltech Water Polo on Instagram and follow Caltech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.