WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2024) – The Whittier College women's lacrosse team showed improvement on both offensive and defensive possessions in its second game of the year against SCIAC foe California Lutheran University on Wednesday evening.
The Poets braved cold conditions to compete with the Regals in the early portion of Wednesday's game. Whittier utilized its speed in the midfield with effectiveness to counter Cal Lutheran and hinder any momentum the visitors could generate. After falling behind 2-0, sophomore
Julie O'Brien (Reading, Mass. / Reading Memorial) fired a rocket past the Regals' netminder to halve the deficit. When Cal Lutheran responded, junior
Cassandra Carmona (Whittier, Calif. / La Serna) found herself a shooting lane in front of the Regals' net to again cut the deficit to just one goal. Minutes later, the Poets had thought to have knotted things at three goals apiece, though the officiating crew ultimately called that goal back, leading to an offensive run for the visitors.
Carmona got on the board again with a goal in the second quarter, and a beautiful run from midfielder
Juliana Hodgson (Fullerton, Calif. / Sunny Hills) off the draw led to the Poets' fourth and final goal of the game. Defensively, Whittier showed improvement from the CMS game on the draw, with its ability to cause turnovers and get successful clears to lead to offensive opportunities. In net, senior goalie
Haley Hughes-Gill (Shaker Heights, Ohio / Shaker Heights) led the way with nine saves.
Head Coach
Leslie Escobar and the Poets will be back on home confines again on Saturday, Mar. 2, when they host Calvin University for an 11 a.m. game in which there are projected to be rainy conditions.
Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!
