Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – With the SCIAC Championships looming in the distance, the Whittier College women's water polo team dropped a tight 15-13 decision to Claremont-M-S Saturday dropping their second straight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) matchup.
Whittier is currently 19-15, 5-2 SCIAC with one final regular season game set for this Saturday, April 19 at Chapman University beginning at 11:00am.
Laurel Pinkley struck first for the Purple & Gold 14 seconds in and Arlin De La Mora answered two minutes later to put Whittier back in front by one. CMS would capitalize on a man-up opportunity to even the game up at two before Cynthia Castillo got into the mix with her first goal with 4:25 to play in the first quarter to put the Poets in front 3-2.
The Athenas would take their first lead of the game with back to back tallies until freshman Isabella Gorrocino connected on a five meter that knotted the game up at four. But with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter and a man-up CMS would again take the lead moving the score to 5-4.
Back to back exclusions opened up the second quarter with no blood being drawn but at the 5:01 mark, CMS would extend their lead to two before Castillo would add her second of the game that cut the deficit to one. Gorrocino would tie the game up at six with a man-up situation but CMS would again bounce back to take a lead a few possessions later. Gorrocino though would again find the back of the goal with a buzzer beater that brought Whittier even at the break.
Out of the half Sabrina Carlile gave the Poets a one goal lead a minute in but three straight from CMS would put the Athenas back in front by two with all three coming on man-up situations. Gorrocino continued where she left off in the second quarter adding her fourth goal of the game before Jenel Rivera would connect to tie the game up at ten.
With 28 seconds remaining in the frame CMS would again capitalize being a man up to go in front 11-10. Then to open the fourth they would extend that lead to two before Pinkley would answer to again cut the deficit to one. This would become a seesaw battle with neither team able to take a lead greater than two. CMS held a 15-13 advantage with 2:04 to play, Whittier had a couple good looks on goal but couldn't get any closer as the Athenas would hold for the two goal victory
