CLAREMONT, Calif. 1 The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s soccer team rallied from an early deficit to earn a 1-1 draw against the Pomona-Pitzer men’s soccer team on September 23, 2026, at Nakasone Field.
Pomona-Pitzer took a 1-0 lead just over seven minutes into the match with a goal following a corner kick scramble. The lead stood through the first half despite several attempts by the Stags to equalize.
Just 42 seconds into the second half, Clayton Thomas received a pass from Samir Bouhamama and curled a 25-yard shot inside the far post to tie the game for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. This goal energized the Stags, who then played the remainder of the match with ten men after receiving a second yellow card for tactical fouls.
The Stags’ defense, anchored by Dane Knudsen, Jaishan Sharma and Eric Grossman-Glover, held firm under pressure. Goalkeeper Axel Jimenez made seven saves, and Daniel Zhu cleared a ball off the line with just over 30 minutes remaining to preserve the tie.
Pomona-Pitzer maintained a statistical edge with 20 shots compared to the Stags’ 15 and a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps nearly took the lead late in the match, with Roby Hooper and Collin Ross creating close chances, but the score remained level.
The match also served as the official dedication day for Nakasone Field, with Bob and Bobby Nakasone honored in a pregame ceremony and ribbon cutting at halftime involving the CMS women’s soccer team.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps improves to 4-2-2 overall and 1-1-1 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play. The Stags will host Redlands on Saturday at 7 p.m.
CSB Take
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps showed determination by earning a draw despite playing the last 40 minutes a man down. Clayton Thomas’s long-range goal early in the second half was pivotal for the comeback. The defense and goalkeeper Axel Jimenez played crucial roles in preserving the tie. This resilience and ability to compete under adversity will serve the Stags well as they continue their SCIAC campaign.
Source: Original report
