Chapman takes two against ranked opponents

ORANGE, Calif. – In a pair of games against fellow top-10 ranked teams, the No. 7 ranked Chapman University women's water polo team earned two important victories – their first two of the year – as part of the Chapman Tournament at the Allred Aquatics Center on Sunday. The Panthers defeated No. 8 Grove City College (Pa.) 10-6 and then concluded the tournament with a 12-10 win over No. 10 University of La Verne. Following two losses a day earlier, Chapman improved to 2-2 to begin the season.

Chapman 10, Grove City 6
Chapman out-scored the Wolverines 6-2 in the second half to earn its first victory of the season. The Panthers snapped a 4-4 tie at halftime with a three-goal outburst in the third quarter, including back-to-back goals from sophomore utility Sam Martin who put the Panthers up 6-4 with a goal at the 5:43 mark. She added to the lead 4 minutes later with a shot from the top of the 7-meter line which rattled the back of the cage.

Chapman sealed its first win with three more goals in the fourth quarter. After Grove City cut the Panthers' lead to 7-6 to open the frame, Martin and junior 2-meter Stephanie Roy each scored to put the Panthers back up by three and freshman driver Julie Case put the nail in the coffin with her second goal of the year.

Chapman 12, La Verne 10
The Panthers evened their record with a win in the tournament finale. Chapman jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the first quarter thanks to three more goals by Martin. The sophomore finished with four goals in the game and leads the team with 10 in the first four games.

With the fast start Chapman led from start to finish, although the Leopards pressured and threatened throughout the match, cutting the deficit to a goal on two occasions.

Junior 2-meter Arielle Worthington helped put the game out of reach for Chapman during a fourth-quarter push that extended the Panther lead to 12-8, scoring two of her four goals in the period.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director