Slow start stymies Panthers in water polo loss to Redlands

ORANGE, Calif.- Unable to overcome an early deficit, the Chapman University women's water polo team lost an important SCIAC match with Redlands, 9-7 at the Allred Aquatics Center on Saturday. The Panthers' conference record dropped to 2-3 with just three matches remaining.

Redlands was all alone on the scoreboard after the first quarter with an opening goal from Jill Stein followed by a 6-on-5 goal from Moana Tuipulotu. A strong defensive effort from the Bulldogs held the Panthers scoreless despite several opportunities to net a goal.

It was déjà vu all over again for the Panthers as they watched Stein open the second quarter with her second goal to push the Redlands advantage to 3-0. Less than 30 seconds later, Haley Hollinrake snuck a shot past Chapman goalie Jordan Gilmore to push the lead to four. Miranda Estrella came to the Panthers rescue, snapping the 11-minute scoreless drought with Chapman's first goal before adding another two minutes later to shrink the deficit to 4-2 before the end of the half.

The Panthers' brief scoring run was snapped early in the second half as Tuipulotu netted a goal in the opening minute of the third quarter. Chapman kept up the offensive intensity with goals from Estrella and Riley Ford that sent the Panthers to the final quarter trailing 6-4.

Chapman led off the fourth quarter with a Samantha Martin goal with 6:29 remaining. Tuipulotu answered with the third of her team-high four goals, an arching shot from the center of the tank just out of the reach of Gilmore. Trailing by three, late goals from Estrella and Kate Staskus would pull the Panthers close before a late goal from Tuipulotu sealed the win for the Bulldogs.

The Panthers will head out on the road for their next match at Occidental on April 10 before returning home for their final regular season home game on April 17 versus Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.

Box score: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wwaterpolo/2012-13/files/Chapman_vs._Redlands.pdf

by Ryan Cavinder
Sports Information Assistant

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