Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's water polo team came away with their biggest win thus far this season earning a hard fought 7-3 victory Tuesday over the Wildcats of Division I Villanova to improve to 6-4.
This marked the fifth Division I opponent the Poets have faced this season with 13 left on the schedule.
In front of as raucous crowd of almost 300 strong, the Poets came out quickly adding the first two goals of the contest from Jasmine Villalpando (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Jae Crabtree (San Diego, Calif.). Following four straight ejections, Villanova finally got on the board to cut the deficit to one but the Purple & Gold would add the final tally of the quarter from Laurel Pinkley (Humble, TX) with twenty seconds left.
Villanova would then pick it up on the defensive end holding the Poets scoreless in the second quarter while pulling within one 3-2 at the break. VU would come out of the half with a quick goal to tie the game up at three from Edwards on a five meter but WC responded adding the last two goals of the quarter both coming on man up situations from Pinkley and Jenel Rivera (Whittier, Calif.) that moved the score to 5-3.
In the final frame, Whittier picked up their defensive intensity holding the Wildcats scoreless in part to two big five meter saves from senior goalie Mattie Winkler (Mill Valley, Calif.), while Crabtree and Villalpando added insurance goals that preserved the victory.
Whittier now travels to the Claremont Convergence this weekend in Claremont, Calif. March 7-8 as they host Division II Azusa Pacific (March 7 @ 3:20pm) and Division I opponents Hawaii (March 7 @ 11:20am), George Washington (March 8 @ 10:20am), and Long Beach State (March 8 @ 2:20pm).
