CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Cal Lutheran women's water polo team came up short of its ultimate goal as the Regals fell to the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens 8-2 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship Sunday afternoon at Haldeman Pool.
With the win, Pomona-Pitzer earned the SCIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Regals finished the season with a record of 21-9. The 21 wins tied for the most in program history. CLU has accomplished the feat three times.
This season, Cal Lutheran was the only team in the SCIAC to hold the Sagehens to single-digits in points and did so twice.
The Regals defense did it much as it could and Bailey Meyer was big in front of the cage. Meyer and the defense kept the Regals in it for most of the game, but in the end, the Sagehens were too much. Meyer came up with seven key saves. She finished the season with 301 saves. It is the first time in program history that a goalkeeper has made 300-plus saves in a season.
Pomona-Pitzer took the lead from the get-go and led 2-0 after the first quarter. The Regals cut the lead in half with 2:10 left in the second quarter. Cal Lutheran scored on a power play as Victoria Rose Meek recored the first goal of the game for the Regals.
The Sagehens got the point back on the ensuing possession and had a 3-1 lead at the half. Mackenzie Thomas scored the lone goal for the Regals in the third quarter. Pomona-Pitzer also added three more and was up 6-2. The Sagehens connected on two goals in the fourth and claimed the game 8-2.
The Regals only graduate three student-athletes and look to make their way back to the SCIAC Championship game next season.
Results: PP 8, CLU 2
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
