THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Cal Lutheran women's water polo and Chapman were locked in a defensive battle as the Regals fell to the Panthers 7-6 on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Panthers scored the first two goals as the Regals found themselves in an early hole. The Regals responded with two of their own, battling back, and the game was tied 2-2 at the end of the first quarter. The game went back and forth as the Panthers scored the only two goals of the second quarter and had a 4-2 advantage at the half.

The defense continued to control the game in the second half. Both teams scored one point through six minutes as the Regals trailed 5-3 with two minutes left in the third. Chapman added one more in the quarter and had a 6-4 lead with eight minutes left. The Regals made it a one-score game as they converted with 4:51 left. The teams then traded goals as Chapman was up 7-6 with 35 seconds remaining. The Regals had one final shot as Chapman escaped with the win. 

Bethany Metcalfe recorded a hat trick, Katie Knight was next with two goals, and Hudson Geier had one. Knight and Geier also performed well on the defensive end with three steals each. Sophie Raquel was in the cage and made nine saves. 

The Regals are back in action on Saturday. They are at Pomona-Pitzer at 11 am.