WHITTIER — The Occidental men's water polo team came up short on Wednesday in a 15-5 loss to Whittier, the top-ranked Division III team in the country.
The Poets got an edge from the pinpoint accuracy of Italian freshman Maximiliano Marriacci, who scored three first-quarter goals as the Poets jumped out to a 6-1 lead.
The Tigers only score in the quarter came form Sam Akiyama on a power play. It was Akiyama's team-leading 34th goal this season.
Oxy managed to contain the Whittier offense in the second period, allowing just two scores, but the Tigers continued to struggle on the offensive end. Nick Heffner's (San Diego) power-play goal, was the team's only other score in the half as the Tigers went into the break trailing 8-2.
Whittier put the game out of reach quickly in the second half, outscoring Occidental 7-3. Matt Munet (Brea) and Paul Bergevin (Los Altos) each tallied a goal in the third quarter and Taylor Russell (San Clemente) scored once in the fourth.
Goalies Josh Needleman (Boca Raton, FL) and Adam Florsheim (Sassuquah, WA) combined for 10 saves.
Oxy continues SCIAC play next Saturday with a home game against #6 CMS. Game time is 11:00am at Taylor Pool.
Box Score 1st 2nd 3rd 4th TOTAL
Occidental 1 1 2 1 5
Whittier 6 2 5 2 15
Occidental Stats:
Goals/Attempts: Akiyama-1/5, Bergevin-1/4, Munet-1/5, Russell, 1/1, Weiser-0/1, Heffner-1/3, Woodland-0/1, Sinclair-0/1, Rodrguez-0/2, Needleman-0/1
Steals-Russell-3, Heffner-3, Bergevin-2, Munet-2, Needlman-1
Assists: Sinclair-3
Turn-Overs: Akiyama-3, Sinclair-2, Rothwell-2, Weiser-2, Rodrgieuz-2, Munet-1
Field Blocks: Akiyama-1
Exclusions/Drawn: Munet-0/1, Russell-1/0, Rodrgiuez-2/0, Weiser-2/1, Rothwell-0/2, Heffner-1/2, Akiyama-1/1, Sinclair-1/2
Saves/Goals Allowed: Needleman 3/8, Florsheim-7/7
