Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Whittier College women's water polo team picked up their fifth win of the season Saturday but also saw their five game winning streak come to a close as they defeated Redlands 12-9 before falling to host No. 19 Cal Baptist 15-5 in the nightcap.
Whittier improves to 5-2 on the young season with three wins over three SCIAC opponents thus far.
Game 1 (Redlands – W, 12-9)
Whittier tallied the first two goals of the contest from Jasmine Villalpando and Jenel Rivera. Redlands responded however adding the ensuing two goals before the Purple & Gold would add the final two of the quarter from Laurel Pinkley and Villalpando to lead 4-2.
The Poets struck first in the second on their second possession with a goal from Rivera who capitalized on a man up situation. After a Redlands goal at the 3:59 mark Rivera would answer with her second of the frame to put WC back in front by three. Then under 2:30 to play in the half both teams swapped goals with Whittier's coming from Jae Crabtree that sent the Poets into the break up 7-4.
Out of the half Villalpando and Cynthia Castillo added quick strikes to extend the lead to 9-4. Redlands however chipped back into the lead with two unanswered to pull within three but another man up goal for Whittier from Rivera put Whittier back in front 10-7 after three quarters of play.
In the final quarter the game remained scoreless until the 2:39 mark when Rivera and Arlin De La Mora added tallies to move the score to 12-7, which would be enough to secure the victory as Redlands would add a last second goal to pull within three.
In goal, senior Mattie Winkler totaled five saves.
Game 2 (No. 19 Cal Baptist – L, 15-5)
Cal Baptist jumped in front 3-0 before Pinkley would stop the bleeding at the 1:04 mark. The Lancers would then add another four goals in the second to take an 8-1 lead into the half. Out of the break, the lead was extended to 12-1 before Pinkley would answer with her second goal of the contest and despite three goals being added in the final quarter from Castillo, Rivera, and Meliza Rodriguez, it wouldn't be enough for the upset as they would fall 15-5.
Whittier looks to bounce back when they open up March on the 1st at the Cal Lutheran Tournament where they will take on Cal State Northridge (9:15am) for the second time this season and Div. I Michigan (1:00pm).
