REDLANDS, Calif. — The University of La Verne men's water polo team fell to Cal Lutheran, 13-12, in the final game of the season and claimed sixth place in the 2014 SCIAC Men's Water Polo Championship.
La Verne came into the tournament in seventh place based on dual-match points but leapfrogged Pomona-Pitzer to finish sixth overall.
In a game that featured four lead changes and eight ties, a 4-1 Cal Lutheran run in the fourth quarter proved the difference.
Cal Lutheran's Zach Graper broke a 9-9 deadlock at the 6:15 mark in the fourth and Ryan Moguel added a goal 50 seconds later to give the Kingsmen a 11-9 lead. Bryan Jimenez stemmed the momentum at the 3:19 mark for La Verne but Cal Lutherna responded with two straight goals to grab a 13-10 lead with 2:13 remaining in the game.
It seemed as if the Leopards had one more rally left in them, but the time ran out. Josh Vega cut the lead to 13-11 with 41 seconds left but when Matthew Vega notched his third goal of the game, there were only two seconds remaining.
Cal Lutheran goalie Jesse Owen came up big for the Kingsmen in the fourth quarter, making four saves.
Matthew Vega led the Leopards with three goals. Troy Williams, Bryan Jimenez and Josh Vega each registered two.
Graper led all scorers with four goals.
La Verne finishes the season 10-18 overall and 4-8 in conference play.
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