LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2009) – The men's water polo team got back to its winning ways today in the friendly confines of Taylor Pool with a 12-9 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Leopards from the University of La Verne.

Occidental jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter behind goals from four different players and led 4-2 after one period of play. In the second, the Tigers netted four more unanswered goals as Brendan Whitmore had two.

After the intermission Austen Oliver scored his third (in only three attempts) while Whitmore capped off his own hat-trick of the game. The fourth quarter saw Richard Dybas join the hat-trick crew while Greg Benz scored the final goal of the game for the Tigers.

Oliver and Whitmore each dished out a pair of assists and Oliver drew four of the five ejections of the game with Dybas recording the final one.

Defensively, Oliver led the pack with five steals while goalie Max Kelly had four of his own. Whitmore and Benz each had three steals in the game as well, while Benz tallied a pair of field blocks. In front of the cage Kelly blocked 15 Leopard attempts.

The victory pushes the Oxy's record to 7-13 and evens their SCIAC mark at 2-2. Saturday, Oct. 31 the Tigers will host the Kingsmen from Cal Lutheran University at 11:00 a.m. in Taylor Pool.