REDLANDS, CA. (Sep. 30, 2023)- The Poets traveled to Redlands Saturday to take on the Bulldogs in a fierce SCIAC matchup. After a great win on Wednesday night Whittier was looking to get their second conference win in a row. The Poets and Bulldogs battled through the first half, but then Whittier exploded in the second on their way to a 6-3 victory. 

In the first half of the game, it was actually the Bulldogs who got off to a fast start. Redlands was able to score within the first 5 minutes of the game, but this early goal would not discourage Whittier. Less than 6 minutes later Madeline Traylor (Covina, Calif., Charter Oak HS) began her magical day. Crystal Mendoza (Whittier, Calif., Rio Hondo College) found the open Traylor, who was then able to slice it past the goalie to tie the game at 1. Just about a minute later Alanis Cervantes (La Habra, Calif., La Habra HS) was able to find the opening in the defense and scored her first goal of the year, giving the Poets a 2-1 lead. By the 15 minute mark in the first half, the Bulldogs would tie the game at 2 and this is how the first half would end. 

Coming out of a 2-2 tie in the first half, Redlands was looking to take control of this game. They were able to score less than 2 minutes into the half and now had a 3-2 lead over the Poets. Whittier was not backing down though, Elizabeth Roybal (West Covina, Calif., South Hills HS) rebounded a shot off the goalie from her teammate, Katie Alexander (Lakewood, Calif., Vanguard University | Cerritos College), and fired it into the back of the goal. With the game tied at 3 Madeline Traylor was not content. Quickly after Roybal's goal, Traylor went cutting down the field, got a pass from her sister, Layla Traylor (Covina, Calif., Oak HS), and scored her second goal of the day to put the Poets up 4-3. Maddie did not stop there though and about 6 minutes later sent her 3rd goal past the Redlands goalie. Surely though, Madeline was not satisfied with just the hat-trick and after some time passed she made her way cutting down the far side of the field and Shayla Sakkakhanaune (Clovis, Calif., Buchanan HS) found her. Maddie slipped right past the defense into great position and laced her 4th goal past the Bulldogs goalie. 

The Poets and especially Madeline Traylor really turned it up in the second half and would finish this game with a 6-3 victory. Traylor had a truly special day scoring an amazing 4 goals. Roybal and Cervantes added to the Poets goal total, while Layla Traylor, Alexander, Mendoza and Sakkakhanaune each had an assist. Whittier will look to continue this goal frenzy next Wednesday (Oct. 4) when they take on Cal Lutheran. The Poets will be returning home to take on the Regals at 7:00.