Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

IRVINE, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Water Polo team opened up 2019 Friday afternoon but couldn't come away with the road victory as they fell 15-6 to Concordia.

The Purple & Gold who were down two starters put up the first goal of the game on their opening possession thanks to freshman Teresa Marchetti (Messina, Italy).  But after that it was all Eagles who scored five of the next six to end the first period leading 6-2.  Whittier's second goal of the frame came from Marchetti again with under a minute to play. 

Concordia started off the second quarter with five unanswered to stretch their lead to 10-2 until Anastacia Gonzalez (Montebello, Calif.) tacked on her first of the game with :49 seconds left in the half.  Out of the break, Marchetti converted the hat trick with an unassisted goal on the opening possession, but again CUI was able to respond this time with four straight that closed out the period moving the score to 14-4.  In the fourth, Whittier was able to tack on another two coming from Taylor Kleinert (Lodi, Calif.) and Emma-Louise Romero (El Segundo, Calif.) but it wouldn't be enough as the Poets fell 15-6. 

Whittier was outshot 29-15 and was just 5-for-13 on power-plays.    

Whittier returns to competition next Sunday, February 17 when they travel to UC Irvine to take on the Anteaters.  Game time set for 3:00pm.