LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2007) –
For the first time in Larry Zubrin's reign as the head coach
at Occidental, the Tigers defeated the Whittier College Poets. The
teams battled until the end, but Oxy out lasted Whittier 11-10 at
Taylor Pool in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference Action today.
The Tigers got on the board first as junior
utility man Cameron Brahmst scored 25 seconds into
the game. Oxy then went up 3-0 lead on a pair of goals from junior
Andrew Valdes. Whittier scored a couple at the end
of the first period to cut the Tigers lead to
4-2. In the second period Whittier's Matt
Rogers and All-SCIAC player Manny Sanchez tied the game at 5-5 and
6-6 respectively. Sean Inoue scored one of his two
goals with 19 seconds to go in the first half, putting Oxy up 7-6
at the break.
Greg Benz provided the
Occidental offense in the third quarter, with two goals. Whittier
added just one, by Chris Villanueva, and trailed 9-7 entering the
final frame.
Whittier battled back, pulling the score even
twice at 9-9 and again at 10-10 as Sanchez scored his third goal of
the game at the 2:41 mark for the Poets' tenth. Oxy turned to
one of its captains, Brahmst, for the go-ahead goal with 1:54
remaining in regulation.
Stellar defense by Jake
Santelli in the final minutes limited the Poets attack as
the Tigers held on for the one goal win. Santelli also provided a
score in the first quarter.
Brahmst finished with three goals as did
Whittier's Sanchez and Will Jackson.
Rounding out the Whittier offense was
Villanueva and Matt Rodgers with two apiece. For Oxy, Abiel
Garcia scored the Tigers' ninth goal with his
signature behind the back shot.
Occidental goalies Blair
Bergsteinsson (four saves) and Max Kelly
(six saves) shared time in front of the cage. For the Poets junior
Matt Brammer blocked nine shots.
The Tigers combined for 14 steals, including
three from Brahmst and Inoue. Santelli and John
Wensman each had a pair. Valdes and Austen
Oliver were each credited with a pair of assists in the
game. Oliver, Brahmst and Santelli each tallied a field block as
well.
Occidental pulls their SCIAC record even at
2-2 while they improve to 11-10 overall this season. The loss drops
the Poets to 7-16; 1-3 SCIAC.
Monday, Oct. 29 Oxy will host the University
of La Verne in a rescheduled game from last week. The Leopards and
Tigers will jump in the pool at 4:00 p.m. in SCIAC action.
