Photo: Tony Leon/D3WestPhotography

WHITTIER, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2022) – The Whittier College women's water polo team came up short of a victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Wednesday night, as well as the the right to host a SCIAC Postseason Tournament game, but put up seven goals against the Athenas on Wednesday night and have finished the regular season ranked third in the conference.

Senior Teresa Marchetti (Messina, Italy / Liceo La Farina) led Whittier scorers with a trio of goals, the last of which came in the game's final seconds. The Poets were able to stay within striking distance of the Athenas throughout the game's duration, making for an exciting home finale on Faculty Appreciation Night. Although the game started slow from an offensive standpoint with just one goal scored between the two teams through the first eight minutes, the defensive nature made for sound back-and-forth water polo with both teams trying to figure each other out. Both sides were able to generate takeaways and both goalkeepers did a sufficient job of thwarting any potential scoring plays. Whittier's goalie, freshman Alexys Puche (Whittier, Calif. / Rosary), played the entire game, coming up with three saves and one of her side's five steals.

Whittier caught up to CMS in the third period after scoring three in the second frame. Senior attacker Amelia Bennett (Calgary, Alberta, Canada / Riverside City College) fired in a nice looking goal just past the halfway point in the third to tie the game for Whittier, but that would be as close as the Poets would get to the Athenas in the third meeting between SCIAC rivals this season. CMS would, however, find an offensive groove over the final three minutes of the frame, pulling away from the Poets in spite of the Purple & Gold outscoring them, 3-2, over the final stanza. Additional Whittier goal scorers included seniors Natasha Velez (La Habra, Calif. / Cypress College) and Bryanna Santis (Commerce, Calif. / Fullerton College), who fired a laser into the back of the net on Whittier's third powerplay attempt of the game.

Both teams combined for nine goals on the powerplay, and the ability to limit chances on the advantage will be something to monitor when Whittier meets CMS for a fourth and final time in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament semifinals. The Poets and Athenas have now spent a combined 96 minutes in the pool together this season, and all three games have been decided by two goals or fewer, making for what should be an exciting fourth chapter. A victory will not only secure Whittier a spot in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament championship game, but also a spot in the Division III National Championships beginning on Saturday, May 7.

Saturday's game will be contested at Axelrood Pool on CMS' campus at 11 a.m., and tickets can be found at this link.

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