Hitting the road for the first time this season, the Caltech Women's Water Polo Team swam into a wall in Allred Pool at Chapman University Sunday. Coming off an offensive explosion of twelve goals last Thursday, The Beavers struggled to commit to offense while dealing with the fierce Panther counter-attack, and only found the net once in each of the first three quarters before a mini-resurgence in the fourth, falling 20-6 in Orange, California. Word of First Year Hanna Dodd's offensive displays thus far has spread, and shouts of "Double team fourteen [Dodd]" could be heard all afternoon long from the Chapman bench. She still managed to finish with four goals to lead all scorers.

The Beavers, down to nine women, came out strong in the first period. Despite equalizing at one apiece five minutes in, the Beavers could not help but be disappointed. The team went 0-6 on six-on-five opportunities on the day, including 0-3 in the first quarter. The first frame ended at 3-1 Chapman, but the Panthers had missed a number of opportunities of their own. Grad-Student Captain Goalkeeper Panna Felsen stopped 3 counter-attack opportunities in the first quarter alone en route to a monster day in the net.

The second quarter was much the same, as Felson collected a pair of steals and another four blocks to frustrate the Panther attack. The Beavers however, had already begun to run out of gas. Playing short on subs and in a large pool for the first time this season clearly put stress on their counter-attack defense, and hampered their own offensive efforts. Janis Intoy (Soph.) found the net for the second consecutive game, firing a Cross-Cage-High-Corner strike on which the keeper had no chance, and though at 6-2, the half-time defecit did not yet seem insurmountable.

The luck of the Orange and White would soon run out, however, as a 7-1 third period put the game out of reach. In a scene that could best be described as "Counter-Attack City," the Panthers took advantage of some sloppy ball-handling, tired swimmers, and an unwillingness to penetrate the Chapman end of the tank by the Beavers to punish Felson. Despite the odds being against her with countless fast breaks and extra man opportunities, Felsen finished the day with twelve blocks while her seven steals led all Beavers.

The fourth quarter saw an improved attack by the Techers, as they consistently swam their offense deeper into the Chapman end, and were rewarded for their efforts. Dodd struck once from a natural goal, and twice from the penalty spot, as fierce attacks by Sophomore Caitlin Regan led to a pair of back-to back penalties. "When we are looking to attack, it makes the other teams work on defense, and can help slow counter opportunities. We can not be scared to attack the goal, because when we do, good things consistently happen," said second-year coach Joshua Moser.

Junior Stacy Levine drew an exclusion in her strongest performance fo the Spring, while Sophomore Erin Hoops found the cage once and drew an exclusion to go with her four steals. First year Joy Lu and Junior Kati Peters didnt find their names in the score-book, but the newcomers' extensive work on the defensive end helped slow the Panther attack early.

The Beavers compete next Saturday at Claremont McKenna College against Washington and Jefferson and La Verne as part of the Claremont Convergence, and are back home the following weekend, April 3rd, against the Occidental College Tigers at 11AM.

GO TECH!!!