Stubborn second-half defense keys Panthers over Pomona-Pitzer
ORANGE, Calif. – A stingy second-half defense helped the Chapman University women's lacrosse team to a key 15-9 victory over visiting Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in a SCIAC matchup on Friday night at Wilson Field. The Panthers kicked off the second half of the conference season by earning the season sweep over the Sagehens and moved into sole possession of second place in the SCIAC by one half game.
With the score tied at 8-8 with 23:47 left in the second half, Chapman (10-3 overall, 4-2 SCIAC) scored five consecutive goals over the next 11-plus minutes to take control of the game. The Panther defense allowed just one goal over the final 27 minutes of the game as senior GK Anjali Thota made five of her seven saves in the second half to lead Chapman.
Junior M Victoria Wilkinson led the second half charge, scoring all four of her goals in the period, including the go-ahead goal at 23:47. Junior A Allie Kontny led Chapman with a season-high five goals and totaled seven points, scoring the Panthers' final goal of the game with 26 seconds left on a two-man advantage.
The first half was a different story as the lead changed hands five times in the opening frame. Freshman A Kylee Moore scored with 1:22 remaining in the half to give the Panthers a slim 8-7 advantage going into the intermission. She finished with three goals in the game.
Junior Jana London led the Sagehens with five goals as Pomona-Pitzer (8-5 overall, 3-3 SCIAC) fell out of a three-way tie for second and into fourth place in the SCIAC standings.
Chapman must go on the road for three of its final four conference games, beginning with Claremont on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to first-place Redlands on April 13.
by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director
Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wlax/2012-13/boxscores/20130405_k7pz.xml
Watch Allie Kontny's postgame interview here!
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