WHITTIER, Calif. (March 31, 2010) – A 7-0 scoring run propelled the Occidental College women's water polo team to a 13-4 victory in their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.  

Whittier (10-10, 0-1 SCIAC) went up 1-0 at the 3:45 mark of the first quarter but the Tigers scored back-to-back goals from Nanea Fujiyama and Danielle Garcia to take an early 2-1 lead.

In a man-down situation, the Tigers allowed WC to knot things up at 2-2, but they quickly reciprocated with two more goals for a 4-2 halftime advantage. The first came by way of Karie Nickle with the second and final goal of the half from the arm of Fujiyama, her second of a game-high three goals.

Things continued to go Oxy's way early in the second half as they added six more unanswered goals to cap off a 7-0 run and take a 9-2 lead early in the fourth quarter as they cruised to back-to-back victories.

After being held scoreless in the third stanza, the Poets scored twice in the fourth quarter.

Seven different players scored and five had two or more goals. Nickle and Garcia were joined by Tessa Bailey-Findley, Julie Monday and Corinne Casey with two goals apiece. Nickle and Fujiyama tacked on three assists each and Garcia chipped in with a pair.

Nickle drew a team-high three ejections. While the Tigers scored on 4-for-5 man-up situations, they held the Poets to just a 2-for-8 effort in the same situation.

Oxy goalie Rachel Adeleye finished with seven saves in the game.

Not only was Nickle effective offensively, but she was a defensive terror as well with five steals and the only field block of the game for the Tigers. Casey came away with four steals and Rebecca Hofer added three.

Occidental (7-13, 1-0) jumps back in the pool on Saturday, April. 3 when they travel to Caltech to take on the Beavers at 11:00 a.m.

Article by: Tracy Maple, Sports Information Director