Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Whittier College women's lacrosse team faced a tough road contest Saturday as they dropped a tight 15-7 decision to Occidental College in front of a packed crowd at Jack Kemp Stadium.

In front of a packed crowd of over 4,000 strong, Oxy jumped out in front 3-1 in the first ten minutes of play.  Whittier's opening goal came from Rebekah Delledera (Livermore, Calif.) but they would put together a nice 3-0 run covering a ten minute span with goals from Shaina Denny (Seal Beach, Calif.), and Delledera (2) that put the Purple & Gold in front 4-3 at the 8:32 mark.

The Tigers would regain the lead with back to back goals following the run until the Poets would tie it up with 2:13 to play in the half with a free position goal from Taylor Pool (Manhattan Beach, Calif.).  But with twenty five seconds to play Oxy would add their own free position goal from Rebecca Belding that gave the Tigers a one goal lead 6-5 at the break.

In the second, Oxy extended their lead to 12-5 following seven unanswered until Daniella Delledera (Livermore, Calif.) stopped the bleeding with 12:58 to play but once again Oxy would put together one final run adding three of the final four goals en route to the 15-7 victory.  Whittier's final goal came from Denny with forty three seconds to play. 

In goal, junior Nicole Yorba (Poway, Calif.) finished with 11 saves against 26 shots, while R. Delledera and Denny each recorded four shots on goal.  Lily Baxter (Phoenix, AZ) despite not having a goal finished with three groundballs and two draw controls.

Oxy was led by Alida Beck who finished with five goals and an assist, while Belding finished with three goals. 

Whittier now enters non-conference action as they host five straight beginning with Saint Joseph's (ME) on Sunday, March 9 beginning at 1:00pm.