Junior driver Matthew Vega makes a goal in the second quarter of the men’s water polo game Saturday. Vega scored two of the 10 goals made by La Verne. The Leopards were swamped by the Whittier Poets, 14-10, at the La Verne Aquatics Center. / photo by Sonora Hernandez
Jolene Nacapuy
Sports Editor
The men’s water polo team faced a tough loss to the Whittier Poets, 14-10, in its last home game of the 2014 season and senior day at La Verne Aquatics Center Saturday.
The team finished 2-6 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play and 8-16 overall on the season.
“I felt good about the game on Saturday because Whittier is the top team in our conference and No. 20 in the nation,” junior defender Viken Huening said. “It just really came down to one or two plays and the scoreboard.”
The Poets finish their season undefeated in SCIAC at 8-0.
“I think that this season has been good overall. We were able to change a lot with the program not only in plays but mentally,” Huening said. “We’re more accountable and we’ve not only grown as players, but as people too in a professional sense.”
Whittier started the first quarter with a 2-0 lead.
La Verne got on the board with 4:43 left in the first, with a penalty shot made by junior driver Matthew Vega.
The Leopards made it within one, 3-2, with 30 seconds left with goals made by Vega and junior utility Nick Estevez. Estevez finished the game with two goals.
“We definitely played better than the last time,” junior defender Troy Williams said. “We were more disciplined and the defense stepped up but we still have a lot to improve on.”
In the second quarter of the game, La Verne managed to tie the game at five.
Freshman driver Josh Vega went past two Whittier defenders to score a goal with 5:38 left on the clock. This was the only goal made by the Leopards in the second quarter.
“We played heart out there, no doubt about that, but we can’t let the little things break us down,” head coach William Rodriguez said.
Whittier broke the tie to take the lead, 7-5, heading into halftime, with goals made by freshman attacker Massimiliano Mirarchi and senior utility Filip Delic.
La Verne kept the momentum strong as it headed into the third quarter of the game. Junior driver Bryan Jimenez scored the first goal of the third.
The Poets answered back with goals made by senior attacker Kyle Catino and Mirarchi.
Two more goals came from La Verne freshman defender Tyler Bennett and freshman utility Makai DeNeve-Arnam.
La Verne was still down, 11-8, heading into the fourth.
“We went on a good rally in the fourth quarter of the game and we had a break away opportunity but we just missed it,” Huening said.
The Leopards managed to score twice in the fourth quarter. Junior defender Andrew Phillips and Josh Vega scored for La Verne, but the Poets answered back strongly, holding onto the lead.
“We have key improvements but by this weekend, we’ll get back out there and show them what we got,” Rodriguez said.
The Vega brothers finished with two goals each.
“This season has been good but it has been hard,” Williams said. “We haven’t gotten the outcome we wanted from the games but hopefully we step it up this weekend.”
The Leopards are looking hopeful to finish their season on a strong note as they face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
“I feel good about playing them because it is kind of the same situation since we did play them first last year and lost by two,” Huening said. “We’re better than last year and I’m very confident in the team and I believe we could win.”
The team will face the Stags in the SCIAC Championships at 1:45 p.m. Saturday at Redlands.
“No matter what happens this weekend we still have a lot to look forward to next season,” Huening said. “We have built such a strong foundation this year and I’m happy with it.”
Jolene Nacapuy can be reached at jolene.nacapuy@laverne.edu.