CLAREMONT, CA — The Leopards rallied in the fourth quarter outscoring the Sagehens 4-1 in the period to mount a late comeback in an important game Saturday afternoon. But the late surge wasn't enough as the University of La Verne men's water polo team fell on the road to Pomona-Pitzer 14-10.
Four different Leopards scored in the effort. Peter Trinh led La Verne with four goals, Jordan Baker scored three goals, Nicolo Buono scored twice, and Ryan Beery added one. Trinh also dished out a pair of assists.
A slow start hurt the Leopards, as the Sagehens got out to a 6-0 lead before Trinh got La Verne on the board early in the second quarter. Pomona-Pitzer took a 10-3 lead at the half.
The Leopards responded in the second half and outscored the Sagehens 7-4 across the final 16 minutes. La Verne got hot in the fourth sparked by a goal from Beery at 5:21 and another from Baker with 3:35 left to play but the Leopards ran out of time. Trinh and Baker both scored in the final minute.
La Verne ended the game on a 6-1 run. Eric Bates finished with nine saves.
"Our defensive execution in the first half was lackluster. We were able to make halftime adjustments but the deficit proved insurmountable," said La Verne head men's water polo coach Pat Beemer.
The Leopards return to action on Wednesday when they head to Eagle Rock to play Occidental at 7 p.m.
