Water polo wins fifth straight to climb over .500 in home debut

ORANGE, Calif. – It took four weeks of waiting, but the Chapman University men's water polo team finally played its first home game of the season and it was worth the while as the Panthers defeated visiting Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.) 13-10 at the Allred Pool on Sunday morning. The win was Chapman's fifth in a row after taking four straight at the Gary Troyer Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

The final score was closer than the game actually was as Chapman (8-7) jumped out to a 10-1 halftime lead and 13-3 advantage after three quarters, only to have the Presidents rally for seven goals in the fourth quarter to make it interesting.

Leading the way for the Panthers was junior utility Willis Allen who finished with a team-high four goals and an assist, all coming in the first half. After taking a 2-1 lead early in the first quarter, Chapman scored nine consecutive goals to take an 11-1 lead early in the third period. Senior driver Mark Alvarado continued his hot play from the weekend with two first-quarter goals to give him 22 over the past five games.

Junior goalie Stephen Neil made five saves and allowed just one goal in the first half for Chapman.

The Panthers will host Concordia on Saturday at 4 p.m. in their final non-conference tune up before SCIAC play begins on Oct. 18 when Chapman travels to Cal Lutheran.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/mwaterpolo/2014-15/files/Chapman_vs._W-J.pdf

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