CLAREMONT, Calif. (Mar. 6, 2024) – Three points from sophomore transfer
Alexandra Haluska (Brea, Calif. / Brea Olinda) helped a shorthanded Whittier College women's water polo remain competitive with the University of La Verne for the entirety of Wednesday night's SCIAC game, but the Poets ultimately came up short to the Leopards, 8-7, in sudden death overtime.
When facing competition more suited to their size, the Poets have done a tremendous job of defending their opponents this season, and Wednesday night's tilt was no exception. Whittier held La Verne to just one goal over the first quarter of the game, thanks in part to strong play from goalie
Candace Tezak (La Habra, Calif. / La Habra) and the defense in front of her. Tezak was an active agent of turnovers, leading all Poets with three steals while the team in front of her fought to discover offensive openings against the Leopards. Eventually, Whittier burst onto the scoreboard on a successful strike from junior
Gaby Spoonhower (Yorba Linda, Calif. / Esperanza). Spoonhower also went a perfect 3-for-3 on sprints, giving Whittier a needed early edge in three out of four quarters.
Haluska's offensive output picked up once the Leopards surged ahead in the third quarter. In response to a 3-0 run from La Verne, the Purple & Gold went on to score five of the next six goals, with Haluska scoring back-to-back goals with a 10-minute scoreless lull separating the tallies. Junior
Haley Kivett (Beaverton, Ore. / Southridge) provided the exclamation point with 52 seconds to go in regulation, giving the Poets a 7-6 lead in crunch time. However, an untimely penalty foul allowed the Leopards to tie the game late. Although the Poets had 25 seconds to find the winner, things instead progressed to overtime with La Verne, this time, taking advantage. The Leopards scored with 2:45 to play in the first overtime, but Kivett and the Poets would not relent. Instead, the junior would deliver a tying strike with just 10 seconds to go to force a second overtime, which evolved into a sudden death period.
Tezak would finish the game with four saves. Meanwhile, Haluska added one of the Poets' four assists to go with her two goals, which tied her with Kivett as the only Whittier players with multiple goals. Juniors
Emily Flores (Newbury Park, Calif. / Newbury Park) and
Margarita Moreno (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / Los Altos), along with sophomore
Chloe Gardhouse (Agoura Hills, Calif. / Agoura) also scored for Whittier.
Head Coach Preslav Djippov and the Poets will recalibrate for Friday when they host their annual Whittier Mini, with games at 3 and 7 p.m. against the likes of Saint Francis University and Macalester College.
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