Quick start, balanced offense helps Panthers to opening win

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's water polo team played some of its best polo in its home tank last year and on Sunday the Panthers picked up right where they left off in 2011. Chapman defeated visiting UC Irvine (Club) 14-9 in its season opener at the Allred Olympic Pool thanks to a big first half.

The Panthers scored 10 first half goals and led 10-2 at the intermission, led by sophomore utility Juliana Botting who scored three of her game-high four goals in the first half. In fact, Botting scored the first three goals of the game as Chapman (1-0) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first 6:17 of play.

Freshman utility Riley Ford also scored a pair of goals in the first quarter and complemented a balanced offensive attack from Chapman, which highlighted nine different goal scorers in the game. Junior utility Mandy Sheehan scored two goals as well.

Trailing by eight goals at halftime, the Anteaters mounted a bit of a comeback, out-scoring the Panthers 5-2 over a span of 8:35 in the second half to cut Chapman's lead to five. UC Irvine scored three goals with a 6-on-5 advantage to help gain ground on Chapman. Three Panther goalies combined for nine saves in the game, led by freshman Kirsten Spicer who made four stops in the third quarter alone.

Junior driver Sami McLaughlin and sophomore driver Julie Case each added a goal, three assists and three steals for Chapman.

Next up, the Panthers will host the Chapman Tournament, featuring eight teams Feb. 25-26 at the Allred Pool.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wwaterpolo/2011-12/files/UCI-CU.pdf

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