Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
CLAREMONT, Calif. – It was a big weekend for the Whittier College Women's Water Polo team who went 3-1 during the Gary Troyer Tournament.
The Purple & Gold took out Fresno Pacific (12-10), Cal State Monterey Bay (11-7), and St. Francis (N.Y.) (11-10). Their only loss coming against Concordia (13-12). Whittier has now improved to 8-5, 1-0 SCIAC and have now won six of their last seven.
Game 1 (Fresno Pacific; W, 12-10)
It was a strong start to the tournament for the Poets. They limited Fresno Pacific to just one goal in the first quarter, while putting up three from Sawyer Bellville (Chino, Calif.), Teresa Marchetti (Messina, Italy), and Jacqueline Au (Los Angeles, Calif.). At the start of the 2nd Quarter the Firebirds would bounce back with three of the first four goals that tied things up. But over the final 2:21 of the half WC would battle back with three unanswered, two coming from Bianca Vera (Los Angeles, Calif.) and another from Ana Alumabugh (Honolulu, HI).
This gave the Poets a 7-4 lead at the break and they didn't let up. FPU would put up two out of the break across the opening three minutes but again Whittier was able to rally this time striking for four straight. Marchetti started it off converting a 5-meter and was followed by Au, Vera, and Alumbaugh. This stretched the Poets lead to 12-6. In the 4th, WC was shutout by the FPU defense as they mounted a comeback with four in a row. But it would come up short as Whittier would hold on for the two-goal victory.
Lauren Tapia (Whittier, Calif.) played all 32:00 minutes between the posts and finished with 11 saves. Whittier was outshot 30-27, was 3-for-3 on power-plays and only 1-for-3 on 5-meter penalties. Vera had a strong game finishing with three goals and four assists. Marchetti added four goals and a steal and Natasha Velez (La Habra, Calif.) with three steals.
Game 2 (Concordia; L, 13-12)
The only loss suffered by Whittier came in the second game of Day 1. Whittier was put in an early hole after the Eagles would go out in front 4-2. They would swing the momentum in the 2nd outscoring Concordia 4-2, which included three straight from Ally Burke (Las Vegas, NV) and Velez that tied things up at 6-6 at intermission.
Out of the break CUI would again put up another four goals that put them on top 10-8. Despite Bellville, Vera, Velez and Burke all connecting in the 4th, it wouldn't be enough to complete the comeback as Whittier would fall by one.
Whittier outshot Concordia 32-25, was 5-for-7 on power-plays and 1-for-1 on 5-meters. Tapia again played between the posts and finished with eight saves and a steal.
Game 3 (Cal State Monterey Bay; W, 11-7)
Whittier swept the competition on Day 2 of the Gary Troyer. They started things off with a strong win against Division II Cal State Monterey Bay.
Back to back goals from Marchetti would give WC an early lead. CSUMB would then gain the momentum back with two of their own but then saw Au and Grace Arnsparger (Long Beach, Calif.) put the Poets on top at the end of one.
Two straight from the Otters to start the 2nd would put them on top 5-4. But after that it was all Whittier putting together six unanswered, which included a 4-0 run in the 3rd. During this spurt Au, Burke, and Velez would all connect that moved the score to 9-5.
Au extended the lead to five with an unassisted strike in the 4th and even with CSUMB adding two of their own it wasn't enough as Velez would secure the win with a feed from Arnsparger with 4:00 minutes to play.
Whittier finished with 24 shots and Tapia between the posts added eight saves and two steals. Au had a huge game with four goals. Velez added three and Bellville with three assists and two steals.
Game 4 (St. Francis (N.Y.); W, 11-10)
The Poets needed extra time to get past a very physical St. Francis (NY) team. SFU held a slight 2-1 advantage after one. Then in the 2nd, Whittier found their offense with Bellville going back to back early, followed by Velez converting two power plays.
WC led 5-4 going into the break but saw that lead evaporate in the 3rd as SFU would claw their way back to level things at 7-7 following a 3-2 stanza. Vera put the Poets back on top with a quick goal in the 4th but again SFU was able to respond this time with two as they went on top for the first time 9-8. With 2:58 to play the Poets were able to add the equalizer coming from Burke who was fed by Amelia Gregorio (Aventura, FL). This forced extra time and that's where the Poets took over with Bellville and Burke putting up two, which proved enough despite SFU tacking on one late.
Tapia played the entire game between the posts and finished with 10 saves. Burke, Bellville, and Velez each finished with hat tricks and Vera recorded two goals and two steals.
Whittier returns to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play this Wednesday, March 11 when they host Claremont-M-S beginning at 7:00pm.
