La Verne, CA...The Tigers fell behind early against Whittier College and couldn't recover in a 15-8 loss in the second round of play at the SCIAC Tournament.

The Poets scored the games first three goals in the first 2:00 of the first quarter, and would go on a 6-0 run in the quarter.

Oxy finally got on the board on the first possession of the second quarter when Sam Akiyama (Aptos, CA) converted a power-play opportunity.  Unfortunately for the Tigers that was just one of three man-up goals they would score in the game, out of nine chances.

The teams would trade two more goals apiece through the remainder of the second quarter to give Whitter an 8-3 advantage at the half.

Oxy would, cut the lead to 8-4 on a Brendan Whitmore (Lafayette, CA) sweep shot from 2meters, but that's as close at the Tigers would get the rest of the way.

Tai McDermott (Palos Verdes, CA) and Whitmore would lead Oxy with two goals apiece, and Joe Reynolds (Souderton, PA) snatched a team high three steals in the game.

Oxy continues play tomorrow against Cal Tech at 10:00am in the 7th place match.

BOX SCORE               1st     2nd     3rd     4th     TOTAL

Occidental                   0        3         2         3         8

Whittier                       6        2        4           3        15

GOALS:

Occidental-McDermott-2, Whitmore-2, Sinclair-1, Stabenfeldt-1, Akiyama-1

Whittier-Sefa-Bokay-3, Catino-3, Eachus-2, Schlactus-2, Panfilo-2, Villanueva-1, Haley-1, Bonander-1

SAVES:

Occidental-Churchman-5

Whittier-Brunansky-8