Women's water polo opens SCIAC schedule tomorrow

ORANGE, Calif. – With the 2018 season getting underway, the Chapman University women's water polo team is ready to look towards a fresh start as a new group of student-athletes take the reins.

The team's offense looks to reload as they lost 173 of their team's 226 goals from last year's senior core. Senior utility player Andi Sandoval will lead the team's new offensive group after coming off of a season where she scored 20 goals, tallied 26 assists and 25 steals. She is the team's leading returning scorer from last season. Fellow senior utility player Elaine Peterson looks to improve on last season after scoring 12 goals, tallying 13 assists and 20 steals.

The depth of the team's goalkeeping will anchor the defense behind captains senior Kerry Goodspeed and junior Alyssa Welfringer. After starting in 16 games and recording 126 saves last season Goodspeed looks to continue growing as a leader on her team alongside fellow goalkeeper Welfringer. Welfringer started nine games and recorded 94 saves in the 2017 season.

Also returning for the Panthers is senior captain and utility player Mary Welton. Last year Welton was the only non-senior to start all 29 games for Chapman while scoring 5 goals and gathering 26 steals.

With nine of the 18 players on the roster being freshman, the Panthers hope to have strong season backed by a strong group of newcomers. This rookie class is loaded with talent and is prepped to replace last year's graduating class.

The team started the season about a month ago facing some tough competition but are ready to get back in the pool in their SCIAC opener tomorrow at home against the University of La Verne at 7 P.M.

by Kyle Brown
Sports Information Intern

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