LA VERNE, Calif. — The University of La Verne men's water polo team lost to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 12-4, on Saturday afternoon at La Verne Aquatics Center.

The Leopards beat the 2013 SCIAC runner-up, 13-10, on Sept. 13 in the nonconference portion of the schedule but could not muster up the same magic on Saturday.

The Stags got out to a quick start with a 3-0 lead on goals by Adam Hillborn, Taylor Cullen and Noah Deer. Matthew Vega put La Verne on the board with 14 seconds left in the first quarter to keep the Leopards within striking distance.

CMS got the first two goals of the second quarter, but La Verne kept pace with goals by Troy Williams and Viken Huening to keep La Verne within 5-3.

Then the Stags ran away. CMS scored two more unanswered goals in the second to take a 7-3 into the break and smothered La Verne offense in the second half. The Stags outscored the Leopards 5-1 in the half, including a shutout in the fourth quarter.

Cullen led all scorers with four total goals and four Leopards had one goal apiece.