Pomona-Pitzer men’s water polo started the 2026 Gary Troyer Tournament on October 2 with two losses to nationally ranked opponents at home in Claremont, Calif. The Sagehens fell 10-5 to No. 16 California Baptist and later lost 16-10 to No. 12 UC San Diego.
In the opener against California Baptist, Pomona-Pitzer took an early 3-0 lead in the first period, with Zach Whitfield scoring twice and sophomore utility player Indigo Lee adding a goal. However, the Lancers answered with eight straight goals to take control, eventually winning 10-5. Pomona-Pitzer managed additional goals from sophomore utility Jake Lee and Michael Soybel but could not close the gap.
Against UC San Diego, Pomona-Pitzer kept the game close during the first half. Michael Soybel opened the scoring, followed by Jake Lee and Chase Barman. UC San Diego led 4-3 after one period. Pomona-Pitzer’s Alex Minton scored in the second quarter, and Jaden Winters responded with back-to-back goals to narrow the Tritons’ lead to 7-6. Despite those efforts, UC San Diego pulled away in the second half to secure a 16-10 victory. Additional goals came from Alex Minton and Indigo Lee in the contest.
Pomona-Pitzer will conclude the Troyer Tournament on October 3 by hosting Air Force and Biola, aiming to build on lessons learned from the opening day.
CSB Take
The Sagehens demonstrated potential with strong starts against highly ranked teams but were unable to maintain their momentum throughout both games. Defensive struggles and endurance were evident as both opponents rallied successfully. Upcoming home matches against Air Force and Biola represent critical opportunities for Pomona-Pitzer to improve execution, earn victories, and gain confidence moving forward in the 2026 season.
Source: Original report
