FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PANTHERS TAKE SECOND IN THE CHAPMAN WATER POLO TOURNAMENT

ORANGE, Calif. – The No. 3-ranked Chapman University women’s water polo team took to the water this weekend and finished second in its own season-opening tournament at Orange High School. The Panthers lost a heartbreaker 9-8 to Whittier in the tournament’s championship game, but finished 3-1 overall. Senior Kristina Eich was named to the All-Tournament team after registering nine goals, 13 steals and 11 earned ejections in four games.

Chapman 9, U.C. Davis (Club) 8
In a game that began a trend of close games for the Panthers, Chapman rallied from a 7-5 deficit to score four of the game’s final five goals to beat the Aggies. Junior Kristin Carter scored both of the Panthers’ fourth-quarter goals, including the game-winner with 14 seconds remaining to lead Chapman to a 9-8 win. Senior Leyna Belcher led the Panthers offensively with three goals while Eich recorded seven steals.

Chapman 17, Caltech 5
The Panthers’ only lopsided victory of the weekend came thanks to a balanced scoring attack that included eight different players scoring at least one goal. Eich, Teri Bartel and Natalie Iwasaki each scored a game-high three goals. Junior Katie MacLean assisted on four goals and added three steals for Chapman.

Chapman 12, Fresno State (Club) 10
Chapman finished the round-robin play undefeated with another narrow margin of victory over the nation’s No. 5-ranked club team, Fresno State. The Panthers withstood a fourth quarter Bulldogs rally after Chapman had led 11-5 with less than six minutes remaining in the game. Fresno State out-scored Chapman 5-1 over the final 5:46, but couldn’t come any closer. Eich led Chapman with five goals and four earned ejections. Junior goalie Constance McMorris made nine blocks in the cage to earn her third victory of the weekend.

Whittier 9, Chapman 8 (championship game)
In a battle of top-10 Division III teams, the Panthers were forced to play catch-up all game long after falling behind 3-1 early in the second quarter to No. 6 Whittier. Chapman tied the score on three different occasions, but never led. Carter scored one of her four goals with 56 seconds left in the game to come within one goal of the Poets. Chapman then had the ball with a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, but couldn’t pull even. Carter added three assists and two steals in the game and led the Panthers with 11 goals in the tournament.

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NEXT CU WOMEN’S WATER POLO GAME: Saturday, March 3rd at Cal Lutheran; 1 p.m