LA VERNE, Calif. — Caltech Men's Water Polo faced off against the No. 10-ranked University of La Verne Leopards on Thursday in a late afternoon showdown on the road.
The Beavers led after the first quarter as they outscored the hosts, 3-2. La Verne found the first goal of the contest at the 6:53 mark, though junior center
Bram Schork (Villanova, Pa. / The Haverford School) evened the score at 1-1 on the very next possession after receiving the feed from sophomore attack
Joshua Braun (Bakersfield, Calif. / Garces Memorial).
The Leopards soon went up 2-1 but Schork again answered on the following possession after catching the pass from sophomore attacker
Justin Hong (Pasadena, Calif. / Pasadena) and ripping a shot past the opposing goalkeeper and into the cage to tie it up.
In the final seconds of the quarter, rookie attacker
Maxwell Woodruff Vale (Austin, Texas / Liberal Arts and Science Academy) drew an exclusion to put Caltech up a man. First-year utility
Carl Crum (San Carlos, Calif. / Sacred Heart Preparatory) took advantage of the situation as he set up a lead-taking goal scored by graduate student utility
Andrés Heredia (San Diego / Francis Parker), putting Caltech up 3-2 heading into the second quarter.
Junior goalkeeper
Sujit Iyer (Marietta, Ga. / Wheeler) collected four well-timed saves in the opening period while allowing just the two scores; the captain kept up his strong play in the second quarter as he again let in just two scores while denying three near-goals.
The team scored a key goal late in the second quarter after Schork found Hong during a powerplay situation after the center drew an exclusion. With the score, the Beavers entered halftime at a 4-4 tie with the nationally-ranked opponent.
The Leopards began to find some offensive rhythm in the third period though the Beavers did not let up, scoring twice more in the final eight minutes of play. Caltech opened the fourth quarter with a score after Schork won the team possession and found the back of the net moments later as sophomore utility
Axel Haydt (Austin, Texas / Westlake) fed the center inside.
Just a few minutes later, sophomore attacker
Alexi Stapf (Santa Barbara, Calif. / San Marcos) connected with Braun, who took advantage of a powerplay situation after Schork drew an exclusion. The Beavers continued to fight valiantly but could not overcome the tough SCIAC foe.
Iyer led the contest with nine saves to the opposing keepers' eight combined. Schork drew three exclusions; six different Beavers drew at least one. All six Caltech goals were assisted by a different player.
Next up for head coach
Jon Bonafede and the group is another road matchup as the Beavers take on No. 6 Cal Lutheran University this Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. Follow the action online at
GoCaltech.com/coverage.
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