WHITTIER, Calif. (Mar. 25, 2026) – Junior goalkeeper
Aubrie Kirkby Tatro (San Luis Obispo, Calif. / Arroyo Grande / Cuesta College) led by example in net as the Whittier College women's water polo team earned their fourth SCIAC victory of the season, this time against a game University of La Verne team at home on Wednesday evening.
The win means the Poets are now two games clear of the Leopards, the University of Redlands and Occidental College, holding the tiebreaker over all three. With the Poets not slated to play either of those teams again in the 2026 regular season, they will hold an edge over all three teams for the remainder of the season.
Kirkby Tatro continued a dominant stretch, this time stopping 12 shots to accrue a save percentage of over 70. She was also an offensive factor, twice assisting on goals from senior attacker
Paula Hernandez (Barcelona, Spain / Westcliff University), who was once again able to stretch the length of the pool and beat the Leopards in transition.
La Verne controlled things throughout the middle portion of the game, a low-scoring affair entering the final frame. With eight minutes to play, La Verne held a 4-3 lead over the host Poets. However, things changed quickly when senior
Alexandra Haluska (Brea, Calif. Brea Olinda / Fullerton College) was able to swing the momentum back to the favor of the Poets, tying the game at the 6:27 mark for her second tally of the night. From there, the Poets were able to capitalize on the momentum, scoring seven of the game's final eight goals with junior
Madison Mathewson (Hayward, Calif. / Moreau Catholic) accounting for three of them. Haluska, meanwhile, joined Kirkby Tatro and freshman
Jayz Tomisa (Honolulu, Hawaii / Roosevelt) as players to notch multiple assists on Wednesday night.
With the Poets leading by three goals late, junior
Hayley Bradshaw (Anaheim, Calif. / Valencia) checked into the game and did a great job of boosting the defensive effort in front of the Poets' star goalie. Kirkby Tatro has now made at least 10 saves in three of her last four starts.
Head Coach
Preslav Djippov and the Poets will be back at home on Saturday, Mar. 28 to host California Lutheran University for an 11 a.m. game.
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