Photo by Renee Ye

Los Angeles, CA – Last Saturday, April 22, your Occidental lacrosse team competed in their last home game against the Chapman University Panthers. Additionally, the Tigers honored their seniors for their years of hard work and their exceptional leadership this season. Anna and Cara, you will be missed.

After a tough start to the first quarter, sophomore attacker Emma Cho scored the Tigers' first goal off of an assist from senior attacker and captain Cara Bekas. While the first quarter favored the Panthers, the remaining quarters were quite close with only a one goal differential every time. Cho went on to score one more goal off of a free position shot in the fourth quarter. Along with her, junior attacker and captain Halle Knutson, junior midfielder and captain Bella Kwan, and first-year midfielder Maeve Moylan all scored two goals each. The remaining goal for the Tigers was scored by junior attacker Ariel Shweiki off of a drive in the third quarter. Five of the Tigers' nine goals were assisted. The top assisters of the game were Maeve Moylan (2) and first-year midfielder Olivia Okamoto (2).

A special shoutout to first-year defender Ellie Mahoney who went on the draw circle for the Tigers for the first time. Mahoney had two draw controls on her circle debut. Next to her were first-year midfielders Maeve Moylan and Ava Whelan. Whelan had three draw controls and Moylan had four. Moylan and Whelan continued to have success in causing turnovers (Moylan had three and Whelan had two). The midfielders also led the team in ground balls as Maeve Moylan and Bella Kwan each had three. Close behind, sophomore goalie Andie Angelacci and sophomore defender Abilene Prewitt both had two ground ball pick-ups.

Going into their last regular season game, three Tigers are top five in overall SCIAC stats. First, Andie Angelacci is tied for second in saves with 124. Angelacci is also in fourth place with a save percentage of 42.2%. Next, Halle Knutson is currently in fifth place for overall points with 51. Finally, Maeve Moylan is third for total shots taken with 78. 

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Tigers in their last home game of the season. Even though they lost 18-9, they put up a valiant effort against the Panthers and enjoyed every second on the field with their seniors. Their two seniors, defender Anna Thomas and attacker Cara Bekas, have had an amazing impact on the team. This season, in conference play alone, Thomas had four ground balls and four caused turnovers and Bekas had five goals and six assists.

If you are free, please tune into the live feed Wednesday April 26, to watch the Tigers face the Whittier College Poets in their last game of the regular season. Their game is at 7:00pm and has important implications for post-season playoffs.