Poets use second half push to roll by Pomona

WHITTIER, Calif. - The Whittier College women's lacrosse team made history on Wednesday evening as its 20-9 win over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges at Memorial Stadium clinched the program's first non-losing season in school history.

The Poets (7-6) have one game remaining on its schedule against Redlands. That game is scheduled for April 27, at 7 p.m.

WC jumped out to early 2-0 lead behind a pair of goals from Ana Garcia (5g). The Poets and Sagehens traded the next eight goals to give WC a 6-4 lead but Pomona closed the half on a 3-0 run to lead 7-6 at the intermission.

During the 3-0 run the Sagehens scored back-to-back free positions shots.

Garcia notched her third goal of the game to open the second half and tie the score and Emily Mukai gave the Poets a lead it would not relinquish at the 27:15 mark off a free position. The Poets went 5-for-8 on FPS in the second half after it failed on all six attempts in the first half.

WC scored 11 of the first 12 goals in the second half which includes a run of seven straight scores from 23:55 to 9:34. Lauren Bibby tallied four goals in that run. For the second straight game she recorded seven goals.

Conny Joel made eight saves in the win as the Poets' defense held the Sagehens to just two second half goals. Whittier forced 14 of Pomona's 31 turnovers and held the Sagehens to just 15-of-29 on clear attempts.

Whittier outshot PP 56-27 and won 21 of the 31 draw controls.