Van Norman powers Poets to perfect SCIAC season

WHITTIER, Calif. - Jordan Van Norman scored five goals and dished out four assists and Alex Perry notched four goals as the top ranked Whittier College men's water polo team erased a 4-2 first quarter deficit to sink Occidental, 14-8, and secure WC's first undefeated Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season since 1994.

In Saturday's night cap of Whittier's typical weekend double-header the Poets saw its seven-game win streak come to an end as No. 19 (Varsity Top 20) Cal Baptist handed the purple and gold a 13-8 loss.

Occidental jumped out to a 4-2 advantage in the first quarter on WC but the Poets outscored the Tigers 5-1 in the second quarter to take a 7-5 lead into halftime. Rilesh Desai scored two of his three goals in the second quarter and Van Norman, Perry and Uriel Villa all added one score.

Casey Regehr finished the game with 20 saves which includes nine in the first half.

WC's defense tightened in the second half. The Tigers managed only three goals with its lone score in the fourth quarter coming on a five meter shot. Regehr made seven saves in the fourth quarter.

Desai added two assists to his team leading total and Perry handed out three assists for the game.

Chet Schuster scored in the fourth quarter for Whittier.

In the second game of the day the Poets found themselves in familiar territory, down 4-2 at the end of the first quarter. This time WC couldn't overcome the lead as it was outscored 9-6 in the final three quarters.

Villa scored two goals and drew two ejections, Desai had a team-high three assists with one goal and Van Norman, Perry, Wes Paulson and Cameron Rehm all scored goals.

Regehr totaled 21 saves which includes one on a five meter shot in the third frame.

The Poets will conclude its regular season tomorrow, November 8, as it travels to Orange, Calif., to face Santa Clara and Chapman at 1 pm and 5 pm.