THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Facing co-Division III leading Whittier, the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team struggled to find a rhythm, dropping an 8-5 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) decision to the Poets this afternoon at the Samuelson Aquatics Center.
In a defensive, low-scoring affair, the Regals combined for 13 steals, led by five from Adrienne Ingalla, and Gina Merry recorded 10 blocks, but turnovers and a lack of offensive throughout was detrimental for the home squad today.
Nothing transpired over the first three minutes until CLU struck first with a goal from Amanda Jones on assist from Kaylee Kastrup.
WC took advantage of a man-up situation to knot the teams at 1-1 with 2:07 to play in the opening period. The Poets then took a 2-1 lead with 15 ticks to go and a CLU turnover denied the Regals a chance to tie things before the short break.
At the 3:53 point of the second stanza Whittier added a third goal, tallying another less than a minute later and converting a five-meter opportunity with 1:10 to play before the break for the final scoring play of the half. CLU was unable to muster any offensive in the quarter.
Trailing 5-1 coming out of the intermission, KC Brendel found the back of the net on a five-meter shot to pull CLU to 5-2. After WC pushed the lead back to four, Adrienne Ingalla tacked on the third goal of the day for the Regals, sending the bleachers into a frenzy.
Kastrup won the sprint, to start the final eight minutes following two Jones sprint victories in the first half of the contest. A penalty call put the ball back in the hands of Whittier and the Poets would score first at 4:21.
Midway through the final frame, Ingalla notched her second goal of the game, but on the ensuing possession WC regained the four-goal lead, though Brendel would respond with her second score 22 seconds later for the final goal of the evening for either team.
Overall, Kastrup drew two ejections and handed out an assist while grabbing two steals and recording the lone field block of the day. Merry and Logan Young also had two steals apiece. Jordan Card led the team with a trio of drawn ejections, handing out an assist despite being held scoreless. Jones and Sara Simpson were responsible for the other two assists and Jones and Hannah Andrews each drew an ejection as well.
Whittier (18-13, 4-0 SCIAC) remains undefeated in SCIAC action with the win. Six different players scored for the Poets and goalkeeper Caitlin Bronzan recorded seven saves.
Cal Lutheran (6-18, 2-2 SCIAC) will be back inside of the Samuelson Aquatics Center on Saturday, April 5 for an 11:00 a.m. showdown with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Box Score: WC 8, CLU 5
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