Women's water polo drops tight battle with Villanova

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's water polo team fell 10-8 to visiting Villanova on Tuesday at Allred Pool. Senior Kerry Goodspeed made 19 saves in the cage.

Good speed and the Panther defense were dominant through the first half. Chapman continuously denied the pass inside and Goodspeed turned away outside shot after outside shot. It was just 1-1 after the first quarter and Chapman (4-8) took a 2-1 lead into halftime after senior Mary Welton scooped in a rebound off the post.

After halftime, Villanova figured out a way to get inside to Dominque Clark and Clark found the net three times in the second half – sometimes without even glancing over her shoulder before a shot. She scored twice in the first two minutes and the Panthers were never able to regain the lead.

Chapman tied it at 3-3 with a goal from senior Andi Sandoval and again at 4-4 with Sandoval's second goal but Nova scored with less than 90 seconds to go in the third quarter to go back up 5-4. Freshman Kylie Beloian brought Chapman even again with a goal at 5:59 mark of the fourth but Charlotte Curran scored just seven seconds later to give Nova the lead for good.

The Wildcats tacked on another goal in the next minute for the first two-goal lead of the match and continued to trade goals with Chapman the rest of the way. Senior Elaine Peterson scored three goals to lead the Panthers.

The Panthers head into the bulk of their SCIAC schedule, beginning with a trip to Whittier on Tuesday. Chapman is back in Allred Pool on Mar. 15 to take on Cal Lutheran at 4 p.m.

By Steven Olveda                                        
Sports Information Director

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