CLAREMONT —The Occidental College women's water polo team added two more wins at the Claremont Convergence Tournament on Friday, extending its winning streak to 11 games. Oxy opened the day with a 9-4 victory over NCAA Division I Siena College, and followed that with a 12-8 win over Chapman University.

In the opener, the Tigers relied on their press defense, and two first quarter goals from sophomore Morgan McClafferty (Huntington Beach) to take an early 4-2 lead. McClafferty finished with three goals, her first hat trick of the season.

The Tigers offense slowed a bit in the second quarter, scoring just two goals, but they allowed just one on two shots at the other end.  Senior Tessa Bailey-Findley (Anaheim Hills), who also scored three times in the game, had both of the Tiger goals in the quarter. The hat-trick was her seventh in 14 games this season.

Leading 6-3 at the half, the Tigers maintained the defensive pressure allowing just one second-half goal. Nanea Fujiyama (Honolulu) and Danielle Garcia (Houston, Texas) combined for the remainder of the Oxy offense.

BOX SCORE                        1^st            2^nd            3^rd            4^th            TOTAL

Occidental                        4            2            2            1            9

Siena                                    2            1            0            1            4

Goals Scored:

Occidental-McClafferty-3, Bailey-Findley-3, Fujiyama-2, Garcia-1

Siena-Timm-1, Verdon-1, Robinson-1, Salerno-1

Saves:

Occidental-Adeleye-4, Perez-4

Siena-Hurley-6

Game 2: Occidental 12, Chapman 8

Occidental got off to a solid start in the second game of the day against Chapman University, taking an early 4-1 lead in the first quarter. Then a Chapman goal in the final minute of the first cut the lead in half, and ignited a strong comeback by the Panthers.

Chapman scored consecutive goals in the first minute of the second quarter to tie the game at four. Oxy re-took the lead on a goal from center by sophomore Katya Soot (West Albany, Ore).

After Chapman tied the game again less than a minute later, the Tigers scored two in a row from Fujiyama and senior Corrine Casey (Lodi), taking a 7-5 lead into the locker room.

Casey led the Tigers with four goals on the game.

Chapman scored the only goal of the third quarter to send the teams into the final frame with Oxy leading 7-6.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Tigers, as they outscored the Panthers 5-2 to secure the 12-8 victory. 

Oxy coach Larry Zubrin was pleased with the way the team finished the match despite their struggles at times on the offensive end.

"We had a tough time offensively against their zone defense, but in the end the girls figured it out and started putting shots away." Zubrin said.  "It's nice to come away with a win even when you're not at your best."

Fujiyama finished with three goals, while McClafferty, Bailey-Findley, and Lindsay Albino (Greenwich, Conn.) each chipped in with one score in the win.

The Tigers resume tournament play tomorrow with two more games. Oxy plays host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 12:40pm at CMC.  The final game of the tournament will be played at Pomona College against Macalester at 4:40pm.

BOX SCORE                        1^st            2^nd            3^rd            4^th            TOTAL

Occidental                        4            3            0            5            12

Chapman                        2            3            1            2            8

GOALS SCORED:

Occidental-Casey-4, Fujiyama-3, Bailey-Findley-1, McClafferty-1, Soot-1, Albino-1

Chapman-Botting-3, Ford-2, Marganian-1, Martin-1, Case-1 

SAVES:

Occidental-Adeleye-4

Chapman-Smith-12