Whittier defense stymies Chapman in top-10 battle

ORANGE, Calif. – A defensive struggle between two of Division III's top-ranked teams ended with a 9-4 victory for visiting Whittier College over the Chapman University women's water polo team at the Allred Aquatics Center on Saturday afternoon. Whittier, ranked No. 4 in Division III, jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back against the No. 7 Panthers.

In what was its 2011 season finale, Chapman fell to 7-5 in home games and 11-16 overall.

Whittier's stifling defense left Chapman shooters befuddled and bewildered – in particular the play of Poets' freshman goalie Mattie Winkler. The rookie made 12 of her 17 saves in the first half and shutout the Panthers over the first 16 minutes of play to help Whittier to 4-0 halftime lead. Additionally, Chapman hit the crossbar three times in the first two minutes and junior 2-meter Stephanie Roy hit the right post with a shot late in the first half to add to the Panthers' frustrations.

It took just 24 seconds for Chapman to get on the board in the second half. Freshman utility Juliana Botting scored her first goal of the game at 7:36 in the third quarter to cut into the Whittier lead at 4-1. However, the Poets responded to each of Chapman's second half goals with their own scores and the Panthers could never catch up.

Botting finished with three of the Panthers' four goals. It was the fifth time in the past eight games the freshman has scored three goals and she finished with 17 goals in that three-week span.

Sophomore goalie Allison Smith had 11 saves for Chapman.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wwaterpolo/2010-11/files/WC-CU.pdf