Men's water polo drops SCIAC Tournament opener to Whittier

PASADENA, Calif. – Sophomore Brady Hoskins tallied a hat trick but the Chapman University men's water polo team fell 12-9 to second-seeded Whittier in the opening round of the SCIAC Tournament. Chapman fell into an early hole but played even with the Poets through the final three quarters.

The Panthers were kept off the board in the first quarter as Whittier built an early 3-0 lead. The early deficit proved to be the difference in the match as Whittier and Chapman both scored nine goals over the final 24 minutes of the match.

Hoskins got the Panthers on the board first early in the second quarter and junior Jeff O'Brien pulled Chapman within one with his first of two goals 30 seconds later. Whittier went on to score the final three goals of the half to take a 6-2 lead into halftime.

Three different Panthers scored in the third quarter when Chapman outscored Whittier 3-2 to pull back within three. Junior Ivo Ivanis scored both of his goals in the final quarter – the first of which brought Chapman back to a two-goal deficit with four minutes to go.

Whittier wouldn't let Chapman closer than two as the Poets outscored the Panthers down the stretch to take the opening match.

Chapman will play in an elimination match against Caltech on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Pasadena City College. The winner moves on the play Occidental at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

by Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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