Water polo drops close match to Oxy

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's water polo team fell 13-12 to visiting Occidental on Wednesday. Three different Panthers scored twice in the near comeback.

Chapman fell behind early and continued to fight back but could never completely erase the deficit. Oxy put together a 4-1 lead to start the match and never trailed. Chapman would fight back to pull within one but Oxy always answered to stay out in front.

In the second quarter, a goal from Everett Prussak pulled the Panthers within 5-4 to start a trade-off of multiple goal runs. Oxy answered with a three-goal run to go up 8-4. Chapman pulled back within one at 8-7 before Oxy countered to make it 11-8, heading into the fourth quarter.

With 40 seconds left, the Panthers kept hopes alive as Spencer Snow pushed in a goal to make it 12-11. Occidental was able to answer by drawing a 5-meter shot and converting the opportunity to put the game out of reach.

Snow scored twice for the Panthers, as did Prussack. Ryan Baumann and Nate Randolph also put two goals into the back of the net. Tanner McMillen made four saves in the second half but Henry Grady made 12 for the Tigers to get the win.

Chapman heads to CMS for an 11 a.m. matchup on Saturday before returning home next Wednesday to take on Caltech at 7 p.m.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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