REDLANDS, Calif. — Division III No. 3-ranked Pomona-Pitzer Colleges outscored Division III No. 5 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by a 9-3 count in the second and third quarters for a 13-9 victory prior to host/Division III No. 2 the University of Redlands overpowering the Engineers, 18-12, on the first day of the 2024 Inland Empire Classic.
Taking on Pomona-Pitzer, junior Adam Ivatorov (Rockaway, N.Y.) converted a man-up pass from sophomore Rick Lundh (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) for his second goal of the quarter to give MIT a 3-1 lead after eight minutes of competition.
The Sagehens scored the goals of the second quarter to tie the match at three as the two teams went back-and-forth throughout the second and third quarters.
After Lundh tied the game at six-all with 6:12 left in the third quarter, Pomona went on a 5-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. First year Derek Schaffer (Redondo Beach, Calif.) stopped the scoring spree with 4:42 left, but Pomona got two quick goals to go up 13-7.
MIT received a powerplay goal from sophomore Matthew Pryce (Johannesburg, South Africa) and a tip-in score by sophomore Kieran Kearns (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) with three seconds left, but the Sagehens held on for a four-goal victory.
Ivatorov led the way with his fifth hat trick of the season, while Lundh finished with a goal and team-high two assists.
First year Armaan Gill (Long Grove, Ill.) made 13 stops for the Engineers.
Pomona had eight different scorers in the game led by a seven goal output by senior Liam Byrne.
In MIT’s final game of the day, Redlands raced out to a 7-1 lead before goals from Ivatorov and sophomore Jackson Kay (Palo Alto, Calif.) made it a 7-3 match with 3:41 in the second quarter. However, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 10-4 prior to halftime.
Sophomore Andras Beleznay (Delray Beach, Fla.) cut Redland’s lead in half with 6:53 to go in the third quarter, but goals from senior Max Wagener and junior Brody Nielsen made it a 12-5 match.
MIT attempted to mount a comeback late in the fourth quarter as back-to-back goals from Ivatorov made it a 17-10 game. Pryce then found the back of the net at 2:09 to move MIT to within six but the Bulldogs stayed in front to take the win.
With his three goals, Ivatorov has recorded a hat trick in every game this season. Pryce and Beleznay finished with two goals each for the Engineers.
First year Joshua Woren (Aurora, Colo.) made seven saves in goal.
Wagener led Redlands with four goals in the match. Senior Roberto Barrera stopped seven Engineers’ scoring attempts to earn the win in cage.
Information courtesy the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Athletics Communications
