ORANGE/WHITTIER, CA. (MAR. 30, 3024)- The Whittier women played two games Saturday, splitting the day with a win and a loss. In the morning they took on the Chapman University Panthers and lost, before battling the UC Merced Bobcats and coming away with a victory.
Game 1:
The Poets traveled to Orange in the morning for a SCIAC matchup against the Panthers. The Poets played a great first half, before a big Chapman run in the second gave them the victory over Whittier by a final score of 10-6.
In the first, Jaycee Morris (Lake Elsinore, Calif., Temescal Canyon HS) scored about half way through the period to give the Poets the first lead in the game. They played great defense this period, allowing no goals. Then in the second period the Chapman Panthers were able to come out and tie this game at 1 apiece. Morris was ready to play though and recaptured the lead for the Poets with 2 minutes remaining in the half. Candace Tezak (La Habra, Calif., La Habra HS, Fullerton College) was fantastic in the net this first half only allowing 1 goal to the Panthers.
Chapman was able to get into a rhythm in the second half and went on a scoring run. The Panthers came out and scored 6 goals in the third period, after scoring only 1 the entire first half. Morris and Margarita Moreno (Hacienda Heights, Calif., Los Altos HS, Fullerton College) tried to keep the Poets in this game with goals, but at the end of the third Chapman held the advantage 7-4.
In the final period Chapman continued to grow their lead. Moreno scored the first goal of the period, and the Poets only trailed by 2, but the Panthers then went on another run. They scored 3 unanswered goals and held a 10-4 advantage over Whittier. Chloe Gardhouse (Agoura Hills, Calif, Agoura HS) was able to net her first goal of the game with 30 seconds remaining, but the final score would fall in Chapman's favor 10-5. Tezak was good in the goal this game coming away with 12 saves.
Game 2:
After a tough defeat in their first game of the day, Whittier was ready to answer back in their second match. The Poets rode 3 offensive periods and solid all-around defense to a 9-5 victory in this one.
Starting off, the Bobcats struck first netting a goal less than 2 minutes into this game. But the Poets were not letting this one get away from them and Gardhouse, Moreno, and Alexandra Haluska (Brea, Calif., Brea Olinda HS, Fullerton College) all scored in about a 90 second span to give Whittier a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period.
The second period was another good one for Whittier, as they were able to score 3 more goals on the backs of Haley Kivett (Beaverton, Ore., Southridge HS), Haluska, and Morris. On the defensive side, the team played another good quarter, only giving up 2 goals to the Bobcats.
In the third the Poets were not able to come together on the offensive side, as they did not score. But on the defensive side they stayed strong only giving up 1 goal. In the final period they would also only give up 1, this time though their offense was back to firing. Haluska would score 2 more, while Morris once again was able to fire one past the goalie.
Although the Poets would have liked to earn a conference victory, they will take the afternoon one. Morris was the star of the day, finishing with a combined 5 goals, 1 assist, 5 steals, and 6 drawn exclusions. Haluska also had a great day with 5 assists and 2 goals. Moreno and Gardhouse would also finish the day with multiple goals. Tezak was fantastic in goal all day finishing with 23 total saves. The Poets will be back in action Wednesday night, playing host to the California Institute of Technology Beavers at 7:00.
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