Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Water Polo team powered past Claremont-M-S 12-5 to open up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play Wednesday evening.

The Purple & Gold after some tough competition at their past two tournaments were able to use that experience to roll past CMS, while improving to 9-12, 1-0 SCIAC.

Whittier held CMS scoreless in the first quarter forcing them into tough looks on goal, while keeping them deep in their own possessions as they held a 2-0 lead after the first eight minutes.

In the second, Whittier stretched their lead as Isabella Gorrocino (East Los Angeles, Calif.) moved the score to 3-0 at the 7:04 mark.  The Athenas stopped the bleeding with 6:29 to play but Gorrocino, Hannah Ellett (Merced, Calif.), and Hannah Rodriguez (Riverside, Calif.) would add three straight that pushed the lead to 6-1 at the break.

Both teams added two goals apiece in the third as Ellett would add her second for the game, while Lindsay Shoaff (Costa Mesa, Calif.) got into the mix with a tally with 1:04 to play.  This kept the Athenas at bay before a 4-2 final frame would put the game out of reach.

Zyania Morales (Commerce, Calif.) and Arlin De La Mora (Commerce, Calif.) added the first two strikes, while Gorrocino and Ellett wrapped up the scoring for the Purple & Gold.

Katia Montoya (Riverside, Calif.) played between the posts for 32:00 picking up the win. 

Whittier returns to the pool this Saturday, March 25 as they host Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 11:00am in another big SCIAC Showdown before taking on Hartwick in the nightcap at 6:00pm.