Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's lacrosse team saw their senior day spoiled by the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer Saturday afternoon during their home finale after PP came from behind to pull out the 9-7 victory at Memorial Stadium.
Prior to the game, head coach Staci Williams and the women's lacrosse program recognized their three seniors who were taking part in their final regular season home game of their collegiate career. These seniors included Hallie Doane, Drew Kuperman, and Carolyn Mukai.
The Poets who continued to seek their first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference were unable to hold their 5-4 lead at the half as the Sagehens outscored the Purple & Gold 5-2 in the second half en route to the two goal victory.
Lily Baxter started off the scoring with a free position goal two minutes in for the Poets and then saw Whittier take a 3-1 lead after Mukai and Kuperman found the back of the goal ten minutes later.
Whittier has been playing tough defense as of late and has been patient on the offensive end playing in tight match-ups. The last time WC played Pomona-Pitzer they fell by the score of 16-11 but this time around the Poets were poised for the home victory.
Pomona-Pitzer managed to even the game at four with 4:20 to play but Whittier came back with nine seconds left in the half from Mukai who went top shelf to give Whittier a one goal advantage at intermission.
Out of the half, Pomona-Pitzer found their offense adding the first three goals that gave them their first lead of the game at 7-5. After a man up goal from Rebekah Delledera with 16:43 to play that pulled the Poets within one Pomona-Pitzer finished the game off on a 2-1 run despite Daniella Delledera adding a free position goal with 11:23 to play.
Mukai finished the game with three goals on six shots with two groundballs, three draw controls, and two caused turnovers. D. Delledera had one of her best games of the season finishing with a goal, three groundballs, and two draw controls.
Between the posts, sophomore Nicole Yorba finished with a game high 13 saves on 22 shots.
Whittier takes part in the SCIAC Post Season Tournament next week on Wednesday, April 24 when they take on Claremont-M-S on the road beginning at 7:00pm.
