Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
CLAREMONT, Calif. (Mar. 5, 2022) – The Whittier College women's water polo team went 3-for-4 at this weekend's Claremont Convergence going unbeaten against Division III teams while claiming its first victory over a Division I opponent this season.
Friday Game 1: Whittier 17, Carthage 2
The Poets drew Carthage College in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, and the Firebirds proved to be no match for the Poets, mustering just two goals against a stout Whittier defense. Senior goalkeeper Lauren Tapia (Whittier, Calif. / Rosary) picked up her second 10-save performance in as many games, stopping 12 Firebirds shots while surrendering just two goals in 32 minutes. Whittier also showed it can be a team that is more than equipped to start fast on its opponent, scoring eight goals in the first quarter en route to an 11-1 first half. The Purple & Gold had 11 different players score goals with sophomore Madeline Olivas (Whittier, Calif. / Fullerton Union) leading the way with a hat trick. Four other players had at least two goals, including newly-minted SCIAC Offensive Player of the Week Alex Lopez (Boyle Heights, Calif. / Fullerton College).
Friday: Game 2: Whittier 23, Connecticut College 7
Whittier opened up the offense even further against the Camels in Friday's afternoon game with the Poets piling 23 goals on the visiting team from New England. The Poets even managed to one-up themselves from the earlier game, this time tagging the Camels with 10 first-quarter goals with the remainder of the game becoming academic. Once senior Natasha Velez (La Habra, Calif. Cypress College) found the back of the net just 150 seconds into the game, the Poets never looked back and received some major contributions from some of the depth on their roster. Senior Amanda Hernandez (Orange, Calif. / Villa Park) and junior Grace Arnsparger (Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Millikan) joined senior Teresa Marchetti (Messina, Italy / Liceo La Farina) and junior Ally Burke (Las Vegas, Nev. / Bishop Gorman) in scoring two goals apiece over the full game. Burke, who is one of the Poets' top defenders along with senior Bryanna Santis (Commerce, Calif. / Fullerton College), also had a significant hand in holding the Camels to just two first-half goals, resulting in Whittier outscoring its first two opponents of the Convergence 25-3 over both first halves.
Saturday Game 1: Whittier 14, Siena 8
The Poets received a step up in competition on Saturday having to deal with two Division I opponents, but they gave a good account of themselves, first beating the Saints in the early game of the day. Tapia once again held her own in net, but eventually gave way to freshman backup Alexys Puche (Whittier, Calif. / Rosary) in the second half, who maintained the energy level defensively with three second-half saves while also holding the Saints to just two goals. The Poets proved they can lock in defensively no matter what moment of the game demands it, and as a result, coasted to one of their biggest victories to date. Lopez led the way with a monstrous offensive game (three goals on three shots, two assists) while Burke also made an important contribution with one goal and three assists.
Saturday Game 2: Villanova 12, Whittier 8
The final game of the weekend saw the Poets give the Wildcats a fight in their second game of the day against a Division I school. The Poets actually took a stalemate into halftime against the Wildcats, tying the game at six with three unanswered goals to close the second quarter. Tapia once again came up big for the Purple & Gold making five saves to go with a pair of steals while playing three-quarters of the game against Villanova. While the Poets would ultimately run out of gas in the second half, Santis led Whittier with two goals, and this time, the offensive moved through Marchetti, who finished the game with a goal to go with three assists.
Head Coach David Kasa and the Poets will turn their attention back toward establishing themselves among the SCIAC's top teams and will have an opportunity to just that when they host Occidental College on Wednesday, Mar. 9 at 7 p.m.
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