LOS ANGELES – The Occidental College women's water polo team split its two games on the final day of the regular season, beating Caltech 16-5 at Taylor Pool and losing at NCAA Division I No. 11 Loyola Marymount 11-1.
Oxy (10-19, 4-4 SCIAC) sits in sixth place with four points at the end of regular season and begins SCIAC Championship Tournament play on Friday at 4 p.m. against third-seeded Whittier at Pasadena City College.
Game 1: Occidental 16, Caltech 5
The women's water polo team began the day recognizing five graduating seniors before cruising to a 16-5 win.
After an opening ceremony that featured a performance of Aerosmith's "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" from the graduating class of Rachel Adeleye (Elizabeth, N.J.), Lauren Ransom (Albuquerque, N.M.), Danielle Garcia (Houston, Texas), Izzy Mayer (Berkeley) and Nanea Fujiyama (Honolulu), the Tigers made quick work of the Beavers.
The highlight of the game was a two-goal effort by Adeleye. The All-SCIAC goalie made a rare appearance in the field and scored both of her shots in the fourth quarter.
Other multi-goal scorers for the Tigers were Garcia, Lindsay Albino (Greenwich, Conn.) and Katie Gibbs (Orinda), who all chipped in with three goals apiece.
Fujiyama and freshman standout Lizzy Kosin (LaGrange Park, Ill.) each scored twice, and Morgan McClafferty (Huntington Beach) added one.
Goalies Adeleye, Geneva Perez (Fresno) and Sofie Munoz (La Crescenta) combined for nine saves.
Box Score 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Occidental 5 4 5 2 16
Caltech 0 2 1 2 5
Goals: Albino-3, Gibbs-3, Garcia-3, Fujiyama-2, Kosin-2, Adeleye-2, McClafferty-1
Assists: Shyba-2, Munoz-1, Perez-1, Albino-1, Gibbs-1, Gill-1, Garcia-1, Mayer-1, Soot-1, Namba-1, Fujiyama-1
Steals: Soot-3, Shyba-2, Gibbs-2, Gill-2, Garcia-2, Fujiyama-2, Kosin-1
Saves: Adeleye-4, Perez-3, Munoz-2
Exclusions: Oxy-5 CIT-5
Game 2: Loyola Marymount 11, Occidental 1
In the second game of the day, the Tigers traveled to Loyola Marymount and put up a strong effort before ultimately falling to the Division I No. 11 Lions by a score of 11-1.
Oxy played well early on, using a strong defense to keep the game scoreless through the first four minutes, but LMU took advantage of some early missed shots from Oxy center Fujiyama to covert fast break opportunities at the opposite end and take a 3-0 first quarter lead.
Adeleye anchored the defense with seven first half saves including five in the first quarter.
LMU's defense was equally impressive, keeping the Oxy offense at bay with a smothering press and the Lions held Oxy's leading scorer Fujiyama scoreless in the game on 0 of 7 shooting.
Despite struggles at the offensive end, the Tigers continued to perform well defensively. But, LMU gradually built up a 10-0 lead.
The Tigers finally got on the board when Kelsey Shyba (Los Gatos) converted a power play goal late in the fourth quarter.
Oxy goalies Adeleye, Perez and Munoz combined for 11 saves in the game.
Box Score 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Occidental 0 0 0 1 1
LMU 3 3 4 1 11
Goals- Shyba-1
Assists McClaffery-1
Steals- Gibbs-3, Adeleye-2, Albino-2, Garcia-2, Shyba-1, Mayer-1, Fujiyama-1
Saves-Adeleye-7, Perez-2, Munoz-2
Exclusions Oxy-3 LMU-7
