Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

PASADENA, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2022) – The Whittier College women's water polo team, led by senior attacker Teresa Marchetti (Messina, Italy / Liceo La Farina), had no problem taking care of Caltech in the first SCIAC game of the season on Wednesday night, toppling the Beavers 18-5.

Marchetti's hat trick headlined scoring for the Poets, but 12 different players ultimately found the back of the net for the visiting team. Chief among those players seniors Alex Lopez (Boyle Heights, Calif. / Fullerton College) and Amelia Bennett (Calgary, Alberta, Canada / Riverside City College), junior Ally Burke (Las Vegas, Nev. / Bishop Gorman) and freshman Emily Flores (Newbury Park, Calif. / Newbury Park), who all helped the cause by depositing two goals. Seven of the visiting team's goals came in the first quarter, and from there, it was academic. 

The game ultimately provided the Poets an opportunity to get players up and down the lineup some playing time and game experience against a conference foe, but they also showed an ability to move the ball with three players, Jenna Marsh (Lakewood, Calif. / Lakewood), Karissa Qualley (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. / Long Beach City College) and Gaby Spoonhower (Yorba Linda, Calif. / Esperanza) all registering a pair of assists. Senior goaltender Lauren Tapia (Whittier, Calif. / Rosary) held the Beavers to just two goals through the first 16 minutes while stopping eight shots before giving way to freshman backup Alexys Puche (Whittier, Calif. / Rosary), who stopped five Caltech shots in relief. The victory marks the first of what should be many to come for the women's water polo team, which is looking to secure a third-consecutive SCIAC Postseason Tournament appearance since the tournament contracted to four teams.

Head Coach David Kasa and the Poets will look win again when they host Ottawa University (Ariz.) on Saturday, Feb. 26 in the 2022 home opener.

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