CLAREMONT/LA VERNE, Calif (March 3 & 4, 2023)- Whittier was taking part in the Convergence tournament this weekend. The women would play in 4 games going 1-3.
Game 1:
The women's first game was against Cal State Monterey Bay and went down to the wire with the Otters narrowly defeating the Poets 8-7 in overtime.
The first half of the game was a quiet one in terms of goals being scored for either team. Chloe Gardhouse was able to find the back of the net in the first and once again scored in the second. The Otters answered back with 2 goals of their own, before Ally Burke was able to give the Poets a lead again 3-2. Monterey Bay was able to score one more to take the game to a 3-3 tie at halftime.
As the second half began, Gardhouse and Burke continued to be the focal points of the Poets offense. They would each score once again in the third quarter, but the Otters would not go away and heading to the fourth it was tied 5-5. Grace Arnsparger snipped one past the goalie as the fourth began to give the Poets a 1 goal lead. However this lead would not last, as the Otters would tie it back up at 6.
Monterey Bay scored quickly in the OT period and believed to have won this game before Jaycee Morris tied the game again 7-7 with 48 seconds left in the overtime period. In the sixth and final quarter the Poets were not able to find an open shot and eventually would lose by a score of 8-7.
Game 2:
The Poets next game was against a dominating Division 1 USC team. USC is the second ranked team in the nation and had only lost one game this year. The girls did their best to keep up, but fell to the Trojans 27-3.
Game 3:
The Poets got back on track in the third game of the tournament as they were able to beat the Penn State Behrend Lions 16-8.
Whittier got off to a great start this game, as Jaycee Morris scored 3, Emily Flores scored 2 goals, while Amelia Bennett and Burke contributed one apiece. The Poets held a 7-2 lead at the end of the first.
The second was more scoring for Whittier as Burke, Margarita Moreno, and Gardhouse each whizzed one past the goalie. The Poets had a 10-3 lead at the half.
Whittier would score 4 more goals in the third thanks to Gardhouse, Arnsparger, and 2 from Bennett. As the final period began Whittier was looking to wrap up this game against the Lions. Arnsparger and Gardhouse once again connected with the back of the net for Whittier in this final period and the Poets were able to capture a 16-8 victory.
The Poets played great on the defensive side this game as they were able to come away with 7 steals, while goalie Alexys Puche made 10 saves.
Game 4:
Whittier's final game, they were matched up against the Division 1 Cal State Fullerton Titans. The Poets got off to a great start this game, but their legs would not last and they would eventually lose by a score of 10-9.
The Poets went on a great run the first half as they were clicking on both the offensive and defensive side of the pool. Bennett, Arnsparger, Burke, and Morris with 2, all added onto their goal totals for the tournament in the first half of this game. Whittier went into the half with a 5-0 lead.
Whittier continued to score in the third quarter with 3 more goals, but the Titans were beginning to make a comeback. The teams began the fourth with the Poets having an 8-4 lead. In the fourth though, the Poets could not find an answer for the Titans, as they went on a 5-0 run to take a 9-8 lead on the Poets. Jaycee Morris tied the game for the Poets with 23 seconds left; however, Fullerton snuck one past Puche with 10 seconds left in the game and Whittier would lose the heartbreaker 10-9.
Although the record was not great for the Poets, who went 1-3 in the tournament, they played hard and there were many bright spots. Gardhouse put up 7 goals for the Poets with 4 steals. Morris also scored 7 with 6 steals. Burke had a phenomenal tournament with 8 goals, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Arnsparger scored 4 goals for Whittier. Bennett found the back of the net 6 times, while also getting 2 assists and 5 steals.
The Poets next game will be next Wednesday the 8th, as they travel to Pasadena to take on the CalTech Beavers in a SCIAC matchup.
Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
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