CLAREMONT, CA 026 023 026 026–Pomona-Pitzer Mens Soccer battled to a 1-1 draw against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on September 23 in the intense Sixth Street Rivalry. The result moved the Sagehens to a 4-3-1 overall record and 1-1-1 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play.
Pomona-Pitzer struck first when Charles Leonard scored early in the eighth minute, assisted by Aidan MacLennan and Nicolas Bee. The Sagehens maintained pressure throughout the opening half, with goalkeeper Gavin Honey making key saves to keep Claremont-Mudd-Scripps off the scoreboard. The match featured physical play, with multiple yellow cards issued in the first half.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps equalized quickly, scoring just 42 seconds into the second half. The Stags then were reduced to 10 players in the 51st minute after Bo Gardner received a second yellow card and was sent off. Despite gaining a man advantage for the remainder of the match, Pomona-Pitzer was unable to find a winning goal. Players including Ryo Kasai, Townes Richardson and MacLennan created scoring chances but could not capitalize.
The physicality and competitive intensity persisted throughout, with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps receiving four yellow cards and Pomona-Pitzer two. Honey’s pivotal save on a 78th-minute shot by James Gomez helped preserve the draw. Both teams finished with nine shots on goal, underscoring the evenly matched contest.
Pomona-Pitzer will next travel to face Cal Tech on Saturday, September 26, at 11:00 a.m.
CSB Take
The 1-1 draw in the longstanding Sixth Street Rivalry highlights Pomona-Pitzer Men’s Soccer’s resilience and tenacity against a spirited conference opponent. Charles Leonard’s early goal set a positive tone, and the team showed discipline and focus especially after Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was reduced to 10 players. Moving forward, capitalizing on numerical advantages and maintaining composure in physical matchups will be crucial as the Sagehens pursue success in SCIAC competition and build momentum for the season ahead.
Source: Original report
