Tritons take out Poets in WWPA semifinals
Photo by: Paul Adams
ORANGE, Calif. - UC San Diego controlled the game from the beginning as the third-seeded Tritons knocked the seventh-seeded Poets into tomorrow afternoon's third place game against Santa Clara with a convincing 16-3 win over the Poets in the Western Water Polo Association Championships Semifinals.
Whittier (20-13) struggled all game to generate offense as it was held to just three goals; its lowest offensive effort since an 8-3 loss to UC Davis on September 27.
The Poets had a chance in the first quarter to gain some momentum when Rilesh Desai drew a five meter shot. Whittier's leading goal scorer, Alex Perry, took the penalty shot but was denied a goal by the Triton's starting goalie.
UCSD took advantage of the missed opportunity and led 4-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The offensive woes continued for Whittier in the second quarter. The Tritons scored five unanswered to open the quarter and put the game out of reach for WC. The purple and gold notched its first goal of the game with 14 seconds left until halftime on a five meter penalty shot.
San Diego opened the second half the same way it started the first with a goal on its opening possession. UCSD scored more goals before Will Jackson made good on his first goal of the game to make the score 13-2.
Only three goals were scored in the final frame as the Tritons outscored Whittier 2-1. Lincoln Haley provided the final score of the game for WC at the 2:52 mark to make the score 15-3.
Despite the outcome of tomorrow's game with Santa Clara the Poets will finish higher than they've ever finished in the WWPA.
