Chris Villanueva '09 scored six goals and assisted on six more as the Whittier College Men's Water Polo team went 1-3 at the California Lutheran University Invitational on September 20 and 21.  The Poets opened the weekend with a tough 11-9 overtime loss to Fresno Pacific and a 16-4 defeat at the hands of Concordia University.  They bounced back on day two with a convincing 9-2 win over La Verne before losing the final game of the weekend 11-3 against Chapman University.

Villanueva led the Poets with three goals and three assists against Fresno Pacific.  Five Poets scored first half goals as they took a 5-4 lead at the halftime break.  The score was tied at nine at the end of regulation with Fresno Pacific scoring twice in overtime to come away with the win. 

Will Jackson '11 scored two goals and added four assists in the game.  Lincoln Haley '12 pitched in with a goal and an assist.  Alex Hernandez '12 and Cameron Lew '12 had a goal apiece.  Whittier goalie Casey Regehr '12 made ten saves and helped the defense with three steals.

In the game two loss to NAIA opponent Concordia, Lew led the offensive charge with a pair of goals.  The Poets fell behind early, and were never able to recover.  Concordia took a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 8-3 at halftime.  The Poets scored just one goal in the second half as Concordia Cruised to the 16-4 victory. 

Jackson finished with a goal and two assists.  Villanueva rounded out the scoring with a goal and an assist.  Regehr and Chris Maloney '12 split time in goal and combined for ten saves.

The Poets lone victory over the weekend came against La Verne on day two.  Haley and Hernandez each scored three goals.  The score was tied at one after the first quarter, and 3-1 at halftime.  The Poet defense was strong, allowing just one goal in each half, led by Regehr who made 12 saves.  The Poets scored four goals in the fourth quarter alone on their way to the 9-2 win. 

Villanueva finished with a goal and two assists.  Ryan Catino '12 was credited with a goal and an assist.

Against Chapman in the final game of the Invitational, offense was hard to come by for the Poets.  Chapman jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first quarter.  The Poets rallied back with three straight goals to cut the deficit to one, but it would be their only goals of the match.  The Panthers outscored Whittier 7-0 in the second half en route to the 11-3 win. 

Villanueva and Hernandez each tallied a goal and an assist.  Lew scored the other Poet goal.  Regehr finished with five saves and four steals in goal.

The Poets hit the road for another invitational on September 26 and 27.  They travel to Riverside, Calif., for the California Baptist University Invitational for four games in two days.  They start the weekend with a rematch against Chapman at 1:30pm followed by a showdown with the hosts at 5:40pm.