Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Whittier College women's water polo team held on for the 8-6 victory over Pomona-Pitzer Saturday as they split during the Lancer Mini #2 falling only to Cal State Bakersfield 14-9.

Game 1 (CSU Bakersfield – L, 14-9)

The Roadrunners overcame an 8-6 third quarter deficit with a six-goal third quarter.  At one point, CSUB scored on five consecutive possessions and held the Poets scoreless over the final 9:36 en route to the victory. 

Whittier (4-2) held a one goal lead 4-3 following the first quarter of play led by Isabella Gorrocino (Los Angeles, Calif.) who add two of her team high three goals.  Three ties occurred in the second frame and the Purple & Gold managed to hold a slight 7-6 advantage at the break. 

Arlin De La Mora (Commerce, Calif.) and Jenel Rivera (Whittier, Calif.) would add two goals in the game and Cynthia Castillo (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Zyania Morales (Commerce, Calif.) would each add a goal apiece.    

Game 2 (Pomona-Pitzer – W, 8-6)
In one of the most anticipated match-ups of the Invite, the Poets took on the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer who are the reigning 2014 SCIAC Champions. 

The Sagehens struck first in the first quarter from Alyssa Woodward but would see Gorrocino and Castillo add two consecutive goals that put WC in front 2-1.  In the second Whittier would outscore Pomona-Pitzer 2-1 again but this time with goals coming from De La Mora and Rivera that moved the score to 4-2 at the break.

Out of the half the Sagehens battled back to tie things up at 5-5 after the third frame but Whittier managed to outscore PP 3-2 over the final eight minutes with two of the three coming in the first two minutes of the quarter from Gorrocino and Angelica Hernandez.          

Whittier returns home in two weeks for two non-conference match-ups when they host Siena (February 25 @ 7:00pm) and Villanova (March 3 @ 7:00pm).