LOS ANGELES, Calif. – On a brisk yet sunny morning in Eagle Rock, before a packed house, the Occidental College women's water polo team extended their win streak to three games to remain unbeaten in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 16-5 victory over the University of La Verne at Taylor Pool this morning.
In a game that saw both teams clank the ball off the cross bars throughout, the Tigers took an early lead and never looked back. They were able to capitalize on three of four 6-on-5 conversion opportunities and finished with 13 steals.
Corrine Casey won the opening sprint and after a defensive battle early, Nanea Fujiyama got the scoring started with 5:24 to play in the opening frame as she skipped the ball off the water into the back of the net.
Karie Nickle scored the second Oxy goal with 3:55 to play in the opening stanza. Rounding out the big-three, Julie Monday got in on the action at the 2:25 mark, before following with her second in as many Oxy possessions, giving the Tigers a 4-1 lead.
ULV successfully moved the ball in to their center for the first time of the game with roughly a minute to play, but stellar defense by Danielle Garcia coupled with a block from Rachel Adeleye kept the Leopards off the board.
As time ticked off in the first quarter, the Leopards again worked the ball close to their net, but a field block by Nickel sent the ball over the cage, denying ULV another scoring opportunity.
After Casey won the second of three sprints on the afternoon, she chipped in to the score as well. A big defensive stop by Nickle, put the ball in the hands of Casey who found the back of the net for her goal of the game.
The next Oxy goal came from long range as Fujiyama fired one off from eight meters out.
ULV added their second goal of the contest after a foul on the Tigers allowed the Leopards to set up their plan of attack.
A turnover put the ball back in the hands of the Leopards and an Oxy ejection gave the Leopards a man-up situation, but the Tigers shut down the visiting squad's attempt.
At the other end of the pool, Oxy worked a man-up situation of their own. A shot hit the cross bar, but Oxy got the rebound, allowing Casey her second scoring chance of the game..
Neither team would get on the board again in the half, sending the teams into the intermission with Oxy ahead 7-2.
Opening the third quarter with another winning sprint gave the home squad an early opportunity. A double-team on Fujiyama left Bailey-Findley open as the possession finished with her second goal of the day.
Monday would tack on her final goal of the game when she scored from set on a pass from Rebecca Hofer. Occidental would add one more to their tally in the third on a Garcia penalty shot with three seconds to go.
The fourth quarter brought six freshmen and a pair of sophomores to the pool. Lauren Howarth won the sprint and the young Tigers delivered. Overall in the final frame Oxy capitalized on their opportunities with six goals.
Lindsay Albino scored the first goal of the quarter before ULV answered with one of their own as Alexandra Escobar launched a line drive from 10 meters out, catching Adeleye by surprise. ULV would add another long distance goal in the quarter by way of Bethi Ross.
Senior Amelia Frey came through for the Tigers for the second game in a row, scoring a pair of goals with two assists in the final two minutes. She handed the ball over the Garcia before dishing the ball to Katya Soot, who also scored earlier in the quarter. Frey scored with 1:42 to play and was responsible for the final goal of the game with eight seconds left.
Monday again led the attack with three goals, followed by a pair apiece from Casey, Soot and Frey and Fujiyama who each took only two shots. Nickle had a trio of assists while Adeleye, Fujiyama, Monday and Frey each had two.
Adeleye directed the defensive unit from in front of the cage where she stopped 10 ULV shots while picking up a team-high five steals. Hofer came away with four steals in the game.
Occidental (13-8, 3-0 SCIAC) will be back at Taylor Pool on Wednesday, April 13 when the Tigers host the Poets from Whittier College at 5:00 p.m. The game will be streamed Live.
Article by Tracy Maple, Sports Information Director
