THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Samuelson Aquatics Center, the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team ran into the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) first-place team and fell 14-9 at the hands of Whittier.

The Poets scored three quick goals in the first four minutes of action to take a 3-0 lead and force an early Regals timeout. Out of the break, Whittier added another goal but the Violet and Gold responded as Mardell Ramirez found the back of the net.

Trailing 5-1 entering the second quarter, the Regals cut the deficit in half on back-to-back goals by Nicole Roed and Tatiana McCuaig. CLU would score twice more in the second with goals from Maggie Kurzeka and Amanda Jones, but the powerful Whittier offense maintained an 8-5 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Poets put the game away after outscoring the Regals 6-1. CLU scored three more in the fourth, but could not overcome the deficit.

Roed led the way with three goals while Jones and McCuaig added two apiece. Ramirez and Kurzeka added the other goals and Gina Merry finished with a game-high six saves.

Cal Lutheran (10-15, 2-3 SCIAC) will continue conference action at Redlands on Wednesday, Apr. 6 at 4:00 p.m.

Box Score: WC 14, CLU 9
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