Third time's still a charm as Panthers advance to SCIAC semis

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Chapman University women's water polo team defeated the University of Redlands for the third time this season 12-10 on Friday night at Haldeman Pool in the quarterfinals of the SCIAC Women's Water Polo Championships. The No. 4-seeded Panthers will face host and top-seeded Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the semifinal match.

Senior attacker Emily Holmquist scored her fifth goal of the game with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter to give Chapman (13-14 overall, 5-4 SCIAC) the lead for good at 10-9. Freshman driver Isabel Kinsolving extended the Panthers' advantage a minute and a half later and senior goalie Kirsten Spicer made a couple big saves in the closing minutes to protect the lead. Spicer finished with 11 saves for Chapman.

The Panthers had trailed 3-1 in the first period before scoring five consecutive goals – two in the final minute of the first – to take a 6-3 lead with 3:13 left in the half. Holmquist led the charge with her first two goals and senior utility Riley Ford added the first of her three goals in the game. Chapman led until Redlands (6-24 overall, 4-5 SCIAC) came storming back with three straight goals to close the third period tying the score at 8-8.

Chapman had a much tougher time with the Bulldogs than in two prior meetings this season when the Panthers won 16-8 and 12-3. Chapman lost to Pomona-Pitzer (18-9 overall, 9-0 SCIAC) 12-6 in their own meeting this season at Allred Pool in March.

Complete 2015 SCIAC Women's Water Polo Championships results, live tweets and video can be found at the Pomona-Pitzer website: http://pe.pomona.edu/sports/wwaterpolo/2014-15/releases/2015042044dlgc

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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