Big fourth quarter helps Chapman put away Caltech

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's water polo team scored six unanswered goals over the final 6:40 in the game to defeat visiting Caltech 15-6 at the Allred Olympic Pool on Saturday morning. The win gives the Panthers their first three-game winning streak of the season and Chapman has now won five of its last six games.

Division III's No. 6-ranked Chapman (12-7) jumped out to an 8-2 lead with the help of four first quarter goals from junior utility Sam Martin, but saw that lead slowly start to erode in the third quarter.

Caltech (3-8) senior defender Erin Hoops scored three of those goals before junior 2-meter Hanna Dodd cut the Chapman lead to 9-6 with a goal at the 7:47 mark in the fourth quarter.

From there, the Panthers' bench took over. Sophomore driver Monica Merrill, back from injury and playing in her first game of the season, scored a pair of goals in the fourth quarter and freshman 2-meter Anna Price also scored two of her three goals in the period as Chapman won going away.

Junior goalie Allison Smith made 13 saves in four quarters for Chapman. Junior utility Ani Marganian added three assists and three steals while freshman driver Kassy Parker scored a pair of goals and led the Panthers with four assists.

The game was the first of a home-road doubleheader for the Panthers on Saturday as they will travel to Claremont to face No. 2-ranked Pomona-Pitzer at 3 p.m.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wwaterpolo/2011-12/files/CIT-CU.pdf

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