FULLERTON, Calif. – The Pomona-Pitzer men’s water polo team split a pair of games Friday at the Fullerton Invite on September 11, 2026, defeating Cal State Fullerton 10-8 before falling to Concordia Irvine 17-13. The results moved Pomona-Pitzer to a 1-5 record on the season.
Pomona-Pitzer Wins 10-8 Against Cal State Fullerton
Pomona-Pitzer scored first against Cal State Fullerton as Michael Soybel netted a goal five minutes into the first period, giving the Sagehens a 1-0 lead after the opening quarter. Early in the second period, Max Distaso and Jake Lee each scored to increase the lead to 3-1. Indigo Lee and Chase Barman added goals before halftime, with Pomona-Pitzer leading 5-3 at the break.
The Sagehens extended the lead in the third period, with Indigo Lee scoring twice and adding to the total alongside Michael Soybel and Jake Lee. Pomona-Pitzer took a 9-6 lead into the fourth quarter. Miles Chiang scored early in the final period to give Pomona-Pitzer a 10-6 advantage. Though Cal State Fullerton scored two late goals, Pomona-Pitzer’s defense held to secure the 10-8 victory.
Concordia Irvine Defeats Pomona-Pitzer 17-13
In their second game of the day, Pomona-Pitzer fell to Concordia Irvine 17-13. Concordia took an early 5-3 lead after the first period despite goals from Max Distaso, Michael Soybel, and Tucker Gavin for Pomona-Pitzer. At halftime, Concordia led 9-5.
Concordia continued to build its lead in the third quarter, but Pomona-Pitzer’s Jake Lee and Tucker Gavin added goals to keep the team competitive. Entering the fourth quarter, Concordia led 13-8. Pomona-Pitzer mounted a late rally with goals from Indigo Lee, Zach Whitfield, and Jake Lee, yet Concordia closed out the game to win 17-13.
Key Contributors
Michael Soybel was a leading offensive contributor, scoring the first goal against Cal State Fullerton, adding goals in the third quarter, and scoring in both matches. Max Distaso also recorded multiple goals in each game, including the first goal against Concordia Irvine. Other notable scorers against Cal State Fullerton included Jake Lee, Indigo Lee, Chase Barman, and Miles Chiang.
Next Up
Pomona-Pitzer men’s water polo will host Golden West College in a scrimmage on September 19, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
CSB Take
Pomona-Pitzer men’s water polo showed resilience and balanced scoring in their victory over Cal State Fullerton, highlighting the potential of several key players. The loss to Concordia Irvine underscores areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining leads against strong opponents. The upcoming scrimmage will be an important opportunity for Pomona-Pitzer to build cohesion and refine strategies as they seek to improve their performance in SCIAC competition.
Source: Original report
