Whittier splits doubleheader with Caltech and Concordia
Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's water polo team split Wednesday afternoon as they took down the Beavers of Caltech 19-1 earning their first SCIAC victory but falling in the nightcap to Concordia 10-2.
Whittier now improves to 12-14, 1-3 SCIAC and have now earned their first SCIAC victory this season hoping to build upon this strong offensive display when they travel out to Claremont-M-S this Saturday, April 14 to take on the Athena's beginning at 11am before coming back to the friendly confines of the Lillian Slade Aquatic Center the same day to take on Azusa Pacific beginning at 5pm.
Game 1(Caltech – W, 18-1)
Right from the start of the game the Poets jumped all over the Beavers scoring five in the first, seven in the second, two in the third, and five in the fifth giving up a late goal in the waning minutes of the fourth that ruined their first opportunity to get a shutout this season.
Whittier had eleven different players contribute to the victory led by Terrileigh Shepherd and Alexandria Talley who each recorded three goals apiece.
The Purple & Gold got the scoring started a minute in from Samantha Pudwill and it steamrolled from there as Katie Vazquez and Jae Crabtree added two goals apiece that put Whittier on top 5-0 after the first. In the second quarter Whittier continued their offensive attack and added another seven goals led by Arianna Weisenburger and Emma Sakuda who each recorded two goals in the period helping extend Whittier's lead to 12-0 going into the half.
Coming out in the third, Shepard added a goal 1:30 into the frame and saw Talley add a late goal with 3:27 remaining that put Whittier up 14-0 heading into the final quarter.
In the final quarter Whittier didn't back away and continued to get scoring opportunities despite allowing Caltech's lone goal early in the frame as they tacked on another five goals from Hayley Parker, Fabiola Sahagun, Shepard, and Talley that extended the Poet lead to 19-1.
Game 2 (Concordia – L, 10-2)
In the second game against Concordia it was all Eagles as they opened up a 7-0 run in the first three quarters of play holding the Poets scoreless until the fourth when Whittier added two of the last three goals to stay away from the shutout.
Whittier fought in the game and had opportunities early but was unable to capitalize off of three exclusions by the Eagles in the first quarter, which proved to be the confounding factor in the loss.
The Poet's went into the fourth quarter down 7-0 but added two goals from Melanie Peel and Katrina Thoreson in the last 4:00 of play but it wasn't enough as Concordia added another three goals that sealed the eight goal victory.
