Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Despite going 1-3 at the LMU Zumo Invite over the weekend, the Whittier College women's water polo team put up a good fight against three nationally ranked programs in No. 11 San Jose State (14-6), No. 15 Princeton (12-8), and No. 25 Cal State Northridge (8-6).
Game 1 (No. 11 San Jose State; L, 14-6)
Cynthia Castillo (Los Angeles, Calif.) got the Poets on the scoreboard on a man-up at the 7:19 mark in the first quarter. Castillo and Isabella Gorrocino (East Los Angeles, Calif.) would then combo with back-to-back goals to put the Purple & Gold on top 3-1 soon after.
The Spartans would rally though with two of their own that leveled the game up but with 1:09 to play in the frame, Jasmine Villalpando (Commerce, Calif.) would connect putting WC on top 4-3.
In the second Angelica Hernandez (Pico Rivera, Calif.) would find the back of the goal extending the Poet lead back to two but it would be short-lived as San Jose State would go on a 4-1 run to close out the half reclaiming the lead 7-6.
Out of the break, Toha-Villanova would get a quick two goals putting SJSU in front 9-6 and they would roll from there holding the Poets scoreless in the second half en route to winning by eight.
Caitlin Bronzan (Brentwood, Calif.) played all 32:00 collecting eight saves and a steal.
Game 2 (No. 15 Princeton; L, 12-8)
The second match-up proved promising as well for Whittier as they remained in striking distance throughout. Jenel Rivera (Whittier, Calif.) tied the game up at 3-3 with 6:00 to play in the second. Princeton would go on a 3-0 run soon after but Castillo would connect pulling WC within two at 6-4 at intermission.
Out of the break, Castillo would answer quickly cutting the deficit to one but again Princeton would put together a run of three unanswered that stretched their lead to 9-6.
But again Whittier wouldn't go away quietly rattling off three of their own from Gorrocino, Arlin De La Mora (Commerce, Calif.), and Villapando that again pulled the Purple & Gold within one.
But in the fourth, it was all Princeton as they would bounce back turning the momentum back in their favor scoring all three goals in the period to pull off the 12-8 win.
Castillo finished with three goals for the game, while Bronzan in goal totaled three saves.
Game 3 (Virginia Military Institute; W, 15-12)
Whittier's lone win came against the Keydets of VMI to start off day two. After the first eight minutes, Whittier saw themselves deadlocked at 4-4 with VMI with Villalpando adding two goals during the run.
Gorrocino broke the tie to start off the second and Hernandez and De La Mora would answer soon after moving the score to 7-4. Rivera would add the last goal of the first half with :06 remaining that gave the Poets a three goal cushion at the break.
Castillo and Rivera would add two quick strikes out of the break putting WC on top 10-5 and they didn't look back as they would add five in the fourth en route to holding on for the three goal victory.
Hernandez finished with three goals, while five players registered two goals apiece. Katia Montoya (Riverside, Calif.) and Bronzan combined for the win. Montoya had five saves and Bronzan had two.
Game 4 (No. 25 Cal State Northridge; L, 8-6)
In probably the most entertaining game of the tournament, Whittier narrowly missed upsetting the Matadors of Cal State Northridge.
Whittier stormed out in front 3-0 in the first three minutes with goals from Rivera (2) and Castillo and would hold a 3-1 lead after the first eight minutes of play.
In the second, the Matadors would get another two from Sanchez that tied the game up at 3-3, while holding the Poets scoreless.
In the third quarter, the defense stood strong again on both sides but with CSUN holding a one goal advantage. Whittier's Rivera would get the lone goal in the period. In the fourth the Poets would find the back of the goal twice more from Hernandez and Lindsay Shoaff (Costa Mesa, Calif.) but somehow CSUN would tally three themselves that helped them hold the two-goal victory.
Montoya played all 32:00 and finished with six saves and two steals.
