WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Water Polo team sent their eight seniors off on a high note Saturday as they swept the competition at the Lillian Slade Aquatic Center rolling past Caltech 13-2 before upsetting Division I Cal State Northridge 12-10.
With the sweep the Poets improve to 15-14, and remain perfect in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play at 6-0, while keeping their winning streak intact at five games.
Game 1 (Caltech; W, 13-2)
It was all Purple & Gold from start to finish in the morning contest as they rolled past the Beavers using a big third quarter that put the game out of reach.
The first quarter, the Poets managed just two goals from Kaitlin Vera (Fullerton, Calif.) and Kayanna Heffner (Bend, OR), while holding the Beavers scoreless.
The second and third units continued to play in the second frame and stretched the lead to 6-0 with connections coming from four different players (Heffner, Anaissa Paul (Chula Vista, Calif.), Ana Alumbaugh, and Celeste Moreira (Downey, Calif.).
Out of the half WC continued their momentum outscoring CIT 6-1, which included six unanswered. During this run, Alumbaugh added three and was joined by Moreira, Heffner, and Katia Montoya (Riverside, Calif.), who picked up her first goal on the season being moved out of goal and into the field.
In the fourth, the defensive unit stood strong as they again held CIT scoreless. The lone goal by Whittier came from Caitlin Bronzan (Brentwood, Calif.), who like Montoya added her first goal of the season despite being a goalie.
Bronzan finished with five saves for the game between the posts, while Alumbaugh totaled four goals to lead the offense.
Game 2 (Cal State Northridge; W, 12-10)
The second game on the day the Poets took part in their final non-conference game of the season against Division I Cal State Northridge and came away with the 12-10 victory.
It was a back and forth battle but what proved crucial was a big third quarter by the Purple & Gold, which helped them come away with the win.
CSUN jumped out in front 3-1 after the first eight minutes with the Poets lone goal coming from Isabella Gorrocino (East Los Angeles, Calif.). The offense came alive from both teams in the second as they combined for nine goals with the Poets holding the edge 5-4. Anastacia Gonzalez (Montebello, Calif.) tied things up with :17 seconds left in the half but the Matadors managed to come back on their final possession to pull back in front as time expired off the clock.
Trailing 7-6 out of the break, Whittier came out and outscored CSUN 4-2 in the third quarter, which put WC on top 10-9 for the first time in the game. The go ahead connection coming from Lindsay Shoaff (Costa Mesa, Calif.) with :06 seconds remaining in the period.
In the final 8:00, the Matadors tied things up on their second possession and this deadlock would hold until the 5:01 mark when Gonzalez would find the back of the goal that moved the score to 11-10. Then with 3:44 to play, Shoaff would add her fourth tally of the game, which was the final blow to the Matadors.
Shoaff led the offense with four goals, while Zyania Morales (Commerce, Calif.) added three. Montoya played between the posts and totaled six saves.
Whittier travels for their final two regular season games of 2017 beginning with Chapman tomorrow, Wednesday, April 12 beginning at 7:00pm before traveling to Occidental on Saturday, April 15 with game time set for 11:00am.
