Photo by: Sylvia Queener
WHITTIER, Calif. – Despite a tough 25-8 loss to Occidental College Wednesday night in their season opener the Purple & Gold had a number of positive takeaways, which included seeing 10 rookies land in the starting lineup.
Head Coach Sylvia Queener really likes her 2020 rookies, which includes Georgia Bachiochi (Henderson, NV), Jai Battle (Simi Valley, Calif.), Payton Climer (Dallas, TX), Chella Davidson (Portland, OR), Kiedra Hall (Fruita, CO), Jaelin Isquith (Las Vegas, NV), Molly Landon (San Marcos, Calif.), Sam Nimmo (Pleasanton, Calif.), Loren Sepulveda (Middleburg, VA), Sydney Strate (Nantucket, MA) and Liz Witt (Carlsbad, Calif.).
It was a quick start for Oxy putting together a 6-0 run that spanned six minutes. The Poets ended that at the 22:46 mark with Davidson getting fed from Landon. But after that the Tigers would string together five in a row that moved the deficit to double digits (11-1). Bachiochi and Climer found the back of the net within a two minute span that gave WC some momentum and Sepulveda and Neely O'Grady (Lorton, VA) would add three more tallies going into the break.
It was a low scoring second half with a combined 10 goals being scored. After eight minutes of scoreless lacrosse the Tigers and Poets swapped goals with O'Grady converting a free-position that moved the score to 18-7. Following five unanswered by Oxy, Landon would find the back of the goal for the first time but that would be the final offense generated for the Purple & Gold over the last ten minutes.
Whittier was outshot 36-15, was 10-for-17 on clear attempts and 4-for-8 on free positions. They were also edged on groundballs 22-19 and draw controls 19-15.
Sepulveda finished with a goal and a pair of assists to go along with four groundballs, six draw controls and four caused turnovers. Landon added a goal and an assist and Climer added a goal with a groundball, and two draw controls. O'Grady who came off the bench had a stellar game as well completing the hat trick, while posting three draw controls.
Between the posts freshman Isquith finished with nine saves against 34 shots.
Whittier remains in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play this Saturday, February 22 when they travel to take on the University of Redlands beginning at 11:00am.
