Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Whittier College women's soccer team who is coming off a strong 4-1 win over the Tigers of Occidental College was unable to pull out the win in their final game as they fell 5-1 to the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer.
Whittier concludes the 2011-12 season 2-15, and 2-10 in SCIAC play, while Pomona-Pitzer runs their record to 10-5-1, and 7-4-1 in SCIAC play.
The Saghens got on the scoreboard quickly in the 4th minute as Traci Lopez found the back of the goal to put Pomona up 1-0. The Poet defense picked up and held the Sagehens scoreless for the next 27 minutes until Erin Edmonds put in a goal from a cross from Lopez that put the Sagehens up 2-0 going into the half.
Despite being down 2-0, the Poets were right there as aggressors as they only were outshot 7-6. Coming out of the break, Whittier continued to be aggressive and began playing more physical and within a four minute span three goals were scored, two from Pomona and one from Whittier's Chelsea Irha who received a beautiful threw ball from freshman Madison Shipherd that cut the Sagehen lead to three.
This would be Irha's fifth goal of the season and her second in as many games.
After these goals were exchanged, senior Megan Wessel who was a big contributor in the Poets win over Occidental as she tallied two goals put two shots on goal that forced Sagehen goalkeeper Emma Wolfarth to make two diving saves to preserve their three goal lead.
The Poets continued to add pressure on the Pomona defense and managed to be only outshot 8-7 in the second half but it wasn't enough as the Sagehens prevailed 5-1.
The Poets who have played their best soccer in the final month have gained experience and exposure throughout the season and head coach Monica Gerardo is expecting big things from her team in 2012.
Final Month's Games
Oct. 8 – La Verne (W 1-0)
Oct. 10 – Pomona-Pitzer (L 2-1)
Oct. 12 – Chapman (L 3-2)
Oct. 15 – Redlands (L 1-0)
Oct. 19 – Claremont-M-S (L 7-3)
Oct. 22 – Cal Lutheran (L 4-0)
Oct. 26 – Occidental (W 4-1)
Oct. 29 – Pomona-Pitzer (L 5-1)
