Tigers tame Camels to earn back-to-back wins

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2009) – For the second time in as many games at Taylor Pool, the Occidental College men’s water polo dominated its opponent, winning today by a score of 18-5 over the visiting Camels from Connecticut College. Six different players scored at least two goals in the non-conference match-up.

Junior Austen Oliver got things started with the first two goals of the game, adding a third in the Tigers’ 5-0 opening period performance. Oxy would add their sixth, and the ultimate winning goal, early in the second quarter when Greg Benz scored the first of three goals in the game.

CC was shutout for more than 14 minutes of play, but lit up their side of the scoreboard mid-way through the second quarter.

At the intermission Occidental had opened up a 9-3 advantage and performed just as well in the second half. With seven different Tigers finding the back of the net, Oliver led the charge with five (and four assists) followed by Brendan Whitmore who had a hat-trick of his own, adding five drawn ejections. Benz, Richard Dybas, Tai McDermott and Dan Seagren scored a pair apiece and freshman Conrad Fihn rounded out the attack.

The three Tigers’ goalies split time in front of the cage with Max Kelly protecting the goal in the first half. He made seven saves before turning things over to Scott Churchman who added four of his own before playing in the field where he had an assist. In the fourth quarter Kelly entered the game as a position player as Kyle Reuther took over as goalie, also tallying four saves with an assist.

Dybas led the defense with a pair of steals as well as a field block. McDermott and Whitmore were each credited with a field block as well.

Occidental controlled the game from the get-go and looks to continue its winning ways as it creeps closer to the .500 mark, improving to 5-9 overall. The Tigers will jump back into the pool on Wednesday, Oct. 14 when they host Mt. San Antonio College at 5:00 p.m. for their final non-conference tune-up before Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play begins (although Oxy will travel to Chapman next weekend).