SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Whittier College men's water polo team traveled down to San Diego for the day to take on UC San Diego and Navy but lost 14-4 and 13-7, each respectively.
Game 1 (UC San Diego – L 14-4)
The Poets entered the game having played two Div. I programs and one NAIA team the previous weekend. UC San Diego who came in at No. 2 in the WWPA rankings came out strong as they went up 4-0 in the first quarter. Whittier managed to get two goals in the second from Michael Eachus and Carlos Panfilo, but they went into the half down 8-2.
After the third quarter the Poets saw the lead for the Tritons jump to 11-2, and then in the fourth the purple and gold got another two goals from Tyler Nollette and Panfilo. But in the end UCSD cruised to a 14-4 victory.
Game 2 (Navy – L 13-7)
Whittier College jumped out to an early lead against Navy thanks to Kyle Catino and Wes Paulson in the first quarter but the Midshipmen managed to come back to go up 4-2 after the first. In the second, the Poets got another two goals from Paulson and Jace Berry, but they let in four goals forcing them into the half down 8-4.
After the half, Paulson yet again came out and scored back to back goals to cut the lead to 8-6 but Navy managed to tack on two more goals to lead 10-6 going into the final frame. In the final quarter, Panfilo tallied one more goal for the purple and gold but it wasn't enough as the Midshipmen went on to win 13-7.
Whittier returns to the pool as they travel to Riverside, Calif. to take part in the Cal Baptist Invite beginning September 30. They will play teams including Concordia (Calif.), Fresno Pacific, Vanguard, and Cal Baptist.
