Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's lacrosse team continues to struggle to put points on the board for the second straight game being held to just five in a 13-5 loss to Chapman University during their home opener.

Again playing with limited numbers the Poets put together a strong first half with their first goal coming three minutes in from Meesha Robinson (Redondo Beach, Calif.).  Trailing 3-1 freshman Angelina Cuevas (Long Beach, Calif.) answered being fed by Brecon Crosby (Concord, NH), which pulled the Poets within one but that's as close as they would get as Chapman would add the final three goals of the half to go up 6-2.

Whittier answered quickly out of the break on their first possession coming from freshman Melanie Rizzotti (Mukilteo, WA) who went top shelf on a free position.  Robinson then added her second two minutes later capitalizing on a double man-up situation finishing home yet another free position attempt that pulled the Purple & Gold within two 6-4.

But Chapman would respond with three unanswered sparked by a pair of goals from Tessa Oliaro that pushed the lead back to five.  Cuevas added her second goal of the game at the 10:05 mark in the second half but that would be the final goal added as the Panthers would score four more en route to the eight goal victory.

Rebekah Delledera (Livermore, Calif.) finished the game with two groundballs and four draw controls.  Cuevas was 2-5 on shot attempts with two groundballs, three draw controls and two caused turnovers, while Taylor Pool (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) was flying all over collecting four draw controls.

Whittier returns to the field this Wednesday, February 25 when they host Claremont-M-S beginning at 7:00pm.