Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's lacrosse team held on late despite a second half surge by the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer to win 15-10 in their final home game of the 2011-12 season.
Whittier earns their first SCIAC victory of the season improving to 5-10, 1-6 SCIAC, while Pomona-Pitzer drops to 6-7, 1-5 SCIAC.
The Purple & Gold's offense put the Sagehens into an early 9-2 hole, which they were unable to overcome behind back to back goals from Shaina Denny early that put Whittier on top 2-1. After a man up goal from Logan Galansky that evened the game up at 2-2 Whittier scored six unanswered to close out the half capped off by a free position goal from Dana Barraco that extended the Whittier lead 8-2 going into the half.
During this run Barraco tallied a second goal, while Carolyn Mukai accounted for three points herself, which included two goals and an assist. Brooke Winslow capitalized off of a man-up situation with 8:19 to go in the first half and was followed immediately by Amiya Moretta who added the seventh goal for the Poets in the first half.
Coming out in the second half Whittier added a quick goal from Barraco that extended the Poet lead to 9-2 but saw the Sagehens catch fire and score six unanswered that pulled them within one with just under twenty minutes remaining. But Whittier didn't get discouraged and replied with a 3-0 run themselves getting goals from Moretta, Barraco, and Drew Kuperman that put the Whittier lead back to four.
Martha Marich who scored eleven goals against the Poets last time these two teams met added on two goals late that pulled the Sagehens within two at 12-10 but saw Whittier close out the game on a 4-0 run sparked by a free position goal from Barraco and capped off with a goal from Kuperman that sealed the victory for the Poets with just under ten seconds to go.
The Poets were led on offense by Barraco who finished with five goals on nine shots, while collecting four ground balls, and four draw controls. Mukai again finished with an all-around game finishing with two goals, two assists, two groundballs, three draw controls, and four caused turnovers.
Whittier returns to action as they take part in their final regular season SCIAC contest on Sunday, April 22 as they travel to Riverside, Calif. to take on the Bulldogs of the University of Redlands beginning at 1:00pm.
