Water Polo Sweeps Caltech Tourney

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 29, 2007) - After a tough stretch of ten contests in ten days, the Occidental women's water polo team recorded three consecutive wins at the Cal Tech/Oxy Mini Tournament in Pasadena March 15. 

Occidental took a 10-1 halftime lead and cruised to a 14-4 win over host Caltech in the opener.  Ashley Notti '09 and Danielle Montenegro '08 combined for eight of the Tigers' 14 goals.  Montenegro also tallied five steals and four assists....BOX SCORE

In game two, Occidental faced NCAA Division I George Washington, ranked seventh by the Collegiate Water Polo Association.  The Tigers trailed 2-0 early on but outscored the Colonials 5-1 in the second to take a two-goal lead at halftime.  George Washington tied the score at seven early in the fourth  period before Oxy regained the advantage in the final two minutes.  The Tiger defense, anchored by Sara Boehler ('09) and Kelly Curtin ('09), held off a late Colonial rally to preserve the win...BOX SCORE

In the third game of the day, Occidental jumped out to a 3-0 first quarter lead against Macalester.  The Scots cut the lead to 5-4 in the second period but a pair of goals just before halftime put the Tigers up by three at the half.  Occidental pulled away in the second half, using a strong press defense and some great play from goalkeeper Laura Simanonok '09 to record the 12-6 win.  Simanonok tallied ten saves and blocked two five-meters in the match ...BOX SCORE

Occidental, now ranked sixth in the latest NCAA Division III poll, improved its overall record to 8-9 heading into next weekends' Claremont Convergence Tournament.   The Tigers are scheduled to face the University of Arizona, Cal State-San Bernardino, Colorado State, and Macalester.