LA VERNE, Calif. (April 21, 2010) – Occidental College doubled up the University of La Verne today in the pool as the Tigers used a 7-0 run at the start of the game to cruise to a 16-8 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory. The Tigers won their first four league games before falling on Saturday afternoon as they now sit in a three-way tie atop the SCIAC with a 5-1 record.

Occidental jumped out to a quick six-goal lead, holding the Leopards scoreless in the opening stanza. The Black and Orange added a seventh goal before ULV got on the board in the second period. Oxy put in back-to-back goals to close out the half leading 9-2 at the intermission.

Following the break, the Leos came out with some vigor, firing off two quick goals and added a third to pull the game to 10-5. The Tigers quickly turned the game back in their favor with three consecutive scores as time ran out in the third quarter. In the fourth the teams would exchange three goals.

The Tigers had a trio of hat-tricks with Nanea Fujiyama, Rebecca Hofer and Karie Nickle all netting three goals apiece. Freshman Lauren Howarth and junior Julie Monday had multi-goal days, each adding two scores. Nickle chipped in with four assists while Fujiyama and Tessa Bailey-Findley finished with a pair apiece.

Occidental converted all three man-up opportunities as Monday drew two ejections and Fujiyama had one.

In the defensive end of the pool the Tigers did a great job of defending the 6-on-5 situations, preventing scores on 8-for-10 ULV chances. Corrine Casey tallied five steals and Fujiyama came away with four.

Freshman goalie Rachel Adeleye saved nine shots in the game.

Occidental (11-14, 5-1 SCIAC) wraps up the first round of SCIAC play on Saturday at Taylor Pool when the University of Redlands (13-12, 4-2) Bulldogs come into town. The ball will drop at 11:00 a.m.

Article by: Tracy Maple, Sports Information Director