LOS ANGELES — With the Oxy Drumline playing and more than 150 community college student writers and photographers packing a crowded Taylor Pool, the Occidental College women's water polo team came up short in its bid to know off first-place Whittier, 15-11 on Saturday.

Photos

Lizzy Kosin and Katie Gibbs led the Tigers with three goals each.

Whittier's Jenel Rivera had a game-high four goals for the Poets.

The Tigers fall to 3-17 overall and 1-3 in SCIAC play. Whittier improves to 19-13 and 5-0 in conference.

The full bleachers and media frenzy were at least in part due to the Journalism Association of Community College's sports writing and photography competition.

"We definitely tried to prepare all week, keeping in mind that we would have a huge crowd," said Kosin, as she fielded questions in the Roy Dennis Trophy room during a postgame press conference with teammate Lindsay Albino and head coach Larry Zubrin. "It was a big deal to have everyone around on every side of the pool. It kept a good atmosphere and kept us pumped."

It couldn't carry them to a victory though.

Oxy fell behind 9-5 at halftime after giving up seven goals in the second quarter. The Tigers chipped away at the lead and were able to cut it to 11-9 with 5:39 left to play in the fourth quarter. Then the Tigers rebounded a shot on defense and had a chance to get within one, but a costly turnover led to a quick goal by the Poets, squashing Oxy's momentum.

"It's disappointing any time you lose a conference game, especially at home" Zubrin said. "Whittier is a very good team and they were more consistent than we were today."

The Tigers are back in action at Chapman on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

"We still have four regular season games left to play and they are all winnable," Zubrin said. 

BOX SCORE          1st     2nd     3rd     4th     TOTAL

Occidental           2         3          3        3          11

Whittier               2         7         2         4         15

OXY STATS:

Goals/Attempts: Kosin-3/6, Zurcher-3/4, Gibbs-2/4, Gill-2/3, Albino-1/1, McClafferty-0/2, Soot-0/3

Assists: Albino-3, Gibbs-3, Kosin-1, McClafferty-1, Soot-1

Steals: Albino-3, Kosin-2, Perez-1, Shyba-1, Gibbs-1

Turn-Overs: Albino-3, Shyba-2, Gibbs-2, Kosin-1, DesCombes-1, McClafferty-1, Gill-1. Soot-1

Exclusions/Drawn: McClafferty-2/1, Albino-1/2, Kosin-1/0, Gibbs-0/1, Soot-0/2

Saves/Goals Allowed: Perez-2/9, Munoz-4/6

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