Alissa Caltagirone looks for a pass.
Alissa Caltagirone (photo by Larry Newman)

Women’s water polo beats Connecticut College 17-9

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's water polo team beat the visiting Connecticut College Camels 17-9 earlier this afternoon at Allred Olympic Pool. Juniors Alissa Caltagirone and Argelia Diaz each tallied a hat trick to help lift the Panthers to victory.

Diaz started the scoring just 36 seconds into the game, taking advantage of a man-up opportunity. The Camels responded at the six-minute mark as sophomore Stephania Lopez evened the score.

The next 10 minutes were all Panther action as Chapman went on an 8-0 run to take a hefty 9-1 lead with just under four minutes left to play in the second quarter. Connecticut College scored three at the end of the quarter but the Panthers headed into the second half up 10-4.

Caltagirone scored the first goal at the 6:30 mark in the third, followed by another goal from Lopez. Diaz added her second goal of the match to put Chapman up 12-5 with just under four minutes left to play in the third.

The Panthers burst out of the whistle in the fourth, scoring the first three goals to build on their lead. The Camels answered with three of their own, but sophomore Joanna Spyrou scored with just one second left to cap off the victory for the Panthers.

10 different Panthers scored in the effort, including freshmen Mia Chanove and Charlene Ma and sophomores Nicole Larson, Audrey Hattori, Lauren Dvonch, Emily Whitney and Kylie Beloian. Ma added two assists to go along with two goals. Junior Roisin Cunningham Smythe tallied four assists for the Panthers.

Chapman returns to Allred Olympic Pool on Saturday, March 16 as they host Cal Lutheran at 11 a.m. and Austin College at 3 p.m.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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