REDLANDS, Calif. — The University of La Verne men's water polo team picked up a pair of victories against Caltech and Pomona-Pitzer on Day 2 of SCIAC Championship on Saturday. La Verne will play for fifth place against Cal Lutheran tomorrow at 10:45 a.m.

Game 2: La Verne 20, Caltech 7

After a back-and-forth start to the game, the Leopards grabbed control in the second quarter and cruised to a 20-7 win.

La Verne rattled off six goals in the second quarter and put in eight more in the third while holding the Beavers to just two scores during that stretch to put the game away.

Bryan Jimenez and Makai DeNeve-Arnam scored four goals apiece to pace the Leopards.

Matthew Vega, Josh Vega, Aaron Avalos and Phillips each had two goals.

The Leopards also got excellent performances in net from their goalies. Daniel Newell made 13 saves in the first three quarters and Christian Ortiz turned away four in the fourth qarter.

Chris Bradley led the way for Caltech with three goals.

Game 3: La Verne 13, Pomona-Pitzer 9

Josh Vega scored a game-high four goals and the University of La Verne held the Pomona-Pitzer offense in check in a 13-9 win.

A day after letting a third quarter lead slip, the Leopards displayed killer instinct in the evening game.

The Sagehens briefly tied the game at 4-4 on Tommy Turner's second goal of the game in the second quarter. But Jared Hopey put the Leopards back up 50 seconds later and La Verne never relinquished the lead.

Pomona-Pitzer got within two on two different occasions, but the Leopards had an answer each time. Phillip Clayman got the Saghens within about halfway into the second quarter but Bryan Jimenez and Troy Williams came up with consecutive goals to give La Verne an 8-5 lead at the half.

Turner's third goal again trimmed the lead to one, but this time, Vega and Estevez came up with straight goals to stop the Sagehen rally.

Goalie Daniel Newell came up big in the fourth when Pomona-Pitzer made its final push. The senior parried away five shots while allowing just one in to preserve the win.

Newell finished with 15 total saves.

Vega scored three of his four goals in the first quarter to keep the Leopards in the game. The freshman opened the scoring two minutes into the game and gave the Leopards a 2-0 lead with a power play goal at the 2:46 mark in the first quarter. Turner got the Sagehens on the board soon after, but Vega answered on La Verne's next possession.

For more information on the tournament and tomorrow's game, CLICK HERE.