Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – In a match-up where the Purple & Gold were favored at the Lillian Slade Aquatic Center, the Whittier College women's water polo team dropped a heart breaker 9-8 to Div. I Villanova.
The loss ends a four game winning streak as Whittier drops to 8-2.
It was a tough game for Whittier as they saw a number of costly turnovers and empty possessions come back to haunt them in the one goal loss. It was a scoreless game early until the final 3:04 when Villanova would add two man-up goals that put them in front 2-0.
In the second, Whittier would outscore the Wildcats 2-1 to pull within one at the half. Isabella Gorrocino (East Los Angeles, Calif.) added the first and Zyania Morales (Commerce, Calif.) would add the second with both coming on man-up opportunities.
The Purple & Gold had a great look for the equalizer as time expired in the first half with getting a one on one with the Villanova goalie but Conrath would come up big with a save that kept VU in front.
In the third, it became a back and forth battle with each team scoring three times. The Poets would add scores from Jennifer Preciado (Pico Rivera, Calif.) and Cynthia Castillo (Los Angeles, Calif.) that tied up the game at 4-4. Jenel Rivera (Whittier, Calif.) would add her first soon after that tied the game up at 5-5 but that would be the closest WC would get as the fourth remained in control of Villanova.
The deficit became three at 8-5 with 3:40 remaining. Gorrocino broke the run with her second of the game that cut the deficit to two and Rivera and Morales would each add a couple as time wound down but it would be too late as VU would hold on for the one goal victory.
Rivera, Gorrocino, and Morales each added two goals, while Abele led the Wildcats with three goals.
Whittier starts up the Claremont Convergence tomorrow, March 4 as they travel to Claremont, Calif. to take on host Claremont-M-S (12:40pm), and UC San Diego (4:40pm) before rounding out the two-day event on Saturday, March 5 against Penn St.-Behrend (11:40am) and St. Francis (N.Y.) (3:40pm).
