(WALNUT) By John M. Sherrard – After stringing together six consecutive victories to start the season, the Mountie men's water polo team suffered its first loss in the 43rd Annual Mt. SAC Tournament Saturday at the Marie T. Mills Swim Complex.
In the opening game of the 14-team tourney the Mounties were edged by Orange Coast College, 7-5, in a morning game and turned up the offense in the final game of the day, defeating Sierra College of Rockland in northern California, 22-11.
Sophomore utility man Scott McDill (Walnut HS, Air Force Academy) had his best game as a Mountie on the season with a game-high ten goals, followed by sophomore 2-meter man Hans Masten with four goals and freshman attacker Alec Rivera (Chino Hills HS) with three.
McDill scored five of the eight Mountie goals in the second period.
Defensively the Mounties compiled 40 steals with sophomore defenseman Thomas Randles (Claremont HS) leading all players with eight. Sophomore utility man Jeffrey Silverberg (Walnut HS) added six, while four players had four each.
In the loss to the Pirates of OCC, neither team had more than a two-goal lead throughout the game.
McDill and Silverberg each had two goals and Rivera scored once.
OCC lead by only a goal, 6-5, entering the final period but the Mounties were held scoreless and the Pirates added another tally for the two-goal victory.
Again the Mounties mounted numerous steals, totaling 30 in the game. Leading the way in that department was Silverberg with eight and McDill had six.
Other first day scores: Santa Monica 17, L.A. Trade Tech 8; Santa Ana 18, Southwestern 17; OCC 11, Sierra 7; Santa Monica 21, Southwestern 9; Santa Ana 12, L.A. Trade Tech 10.
The tournament, which also had seven games at Citrus College on Friday, concludes Saturday with seven more games at each site.