The men’s water polo team opened conference play with a 12-7 loss Wednesday afternoon against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens at Haldeman Pool in Pomona.

After ending last season with a record of 6-28 overall and 3-7 in conference, the men’s water polo team has high hopes for making it into the top four in the Southern California Intercolleg­iate Athletic Conference for the 2012 season.