Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Whittier College women's water polo team wrapped up the Claremont Convergence this past Saturday with a win against Div. I George Washington 11-10 before falling 20-4 to Long Beach State.
Game 1 (George Washington – W, 11-10)
Starting out the second day of tournament play, the Poets took matched up against George Washington goal for goal in the first quarter, with senior Laurel Pinkley putting away shots at the 5:09 and 1:46 marks to keep the score tied. With an ejection drawn and the clock running down, freshman Isabella Gorrocino put up another goal to give Whittier a 3-2 lead.
The Colonials snatched an early lead to begin the second quarter, jumping in front 5-3 before freshman Jenel Rivera saw the back of the cage in the fourth minute of play. Another tally for the Colonials put the Poets down 6-4, though two goals from Rivera and Jasmine Villalpando would tie up the game going into the break.
In the third quarter, a 6-on-5 situation for the Poets gave sophomore Cynthia Castillo the opportunity to sneak a shot past the GW goalie, but the Colonials answered with two more goals to take a 8-7 lead. Senior Jae Crabtree however fired away in the final seconds of the quarter to once again tie up the game heading into the final frame.
George Washington added a quick goal to start off the fourth, but Gorrocino put up another score to keep the game all tied up. A third man up opportunity allowed Rivera to add her third goal of the game, while a final goal from freshman Arlin De La Mora closed out the 11-10 victory for the Purple & Gold.
Game 2 (Long Beach State – L, 20-4)
In the nightcap of the Convergence, the Poets had a match-up with Division I and Nationally Ranked Long Beach State.
They trailed in the early stages of the first quarter 4-0 until Castillo put the Purple & Gold on the scoreboard. In the second, the Poets were held scoreless allowing the 49ers to take an 11-1 lead at the break.
Out of the half, Whittier would grab the first two scores from Rivera, but Long Beach State would respond adding the final five goals of the quarter to go ahead 16-3. In the final frame, Long Beach added another four goals until Whittier would find the back of the net with forty five seconds to play from Meliza Rodriguez.
Whittier returns home to the Lillian Slade Aquatics Center tomorrow, Wednesday, March 12 in a doubleheader, taking on Virginia Military Institute at 3:00 pm and Siena at 7:00 pm.
