LA VERNE, Calif. (Sept. 13, 2009) – It was an unusual
situation as you looked into the pool during the final game of the
2009 Inland Empire Tournament as two starters were sitting on the
bench and three goalies were in the pool, two as position players.
Even with this awkward line-up Occidental pulled off a 7-6 victory
over conference rival, and host, La Verne after falling to another
conference foe in Whittier College by a 12-6 margin earlier in` the
day.
Early in the third quarter against ULV freshman starter
Dan Seagren was majored, meaning he was handed his
third personal foul, and would have to watch the remaining quarter
plus from the bench. Just over two minutes later junior
Austen Oliver joined Seagren as a spectator for
the same reason, leaving no subs for the Tigers and a pair of
goalies playing in the field for the final quarter and a half.
Sophomore Tai McDermott led the way with a
hat-trick, adding an assist and three drawn ejections. Before his
departure Oliver scored a pair of goals for the Tigers.
Greg Benz , who also scored a goal, notched a pair
of assists and drew two ejections. Max Kelly and
Scott Churchman played in the field while freshman
Kyle Reuther manned the goal.
The Tigers got doubled up in the first game. McDermott again led
the Tigers with three goals, while Kelly made 14 saves in front of
the cage. Occidental, as a team, only committed two turnovers and
forced five Poets' turnovers in turn grabbing five steals.
Occidental is now 1-3 as they played some tough competition this
weekend.