PASADENA, Calif. – It was Senior Day at the Braun Pool Saturday morning, as Caltech Women's Water Polo bid bon voyage to senior
Emma Gurcan (Istanbul, Turkey / Lincoln HS; Portland, Ore.) in a moving pregame ceremony before the Beavers took on their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) rival University of Redlands in front of a lively crowd.
An immensely talented player and a passionate leader, Gurcan holds five program records in the steals and drawn exclusions categories, reflecting her ability to create opportunities on both ends of the pool.
Redlands had the first goal, but then sophomore
Mia Mutadich (London, U.K. / Notting Hill and Earling) put the Beavers on the scoreboard with a goal assisted by Gurcan. Redlands replied with a three-goal scoring run but Caltech followed with a trio of their own. Sophomore
Madelyn Gilbert (Clovis, Calif. / Clovis East) started the rally with 3:16 remaining in the second quarter, and then classmate
Maya Dickson (Atlanta, GA / North Atlanta) rippled the rope less than a minute later. First-year
Emma Titus (Hood River, Ore. / Hood River Valley) finally tied the game at 4-4 with the first goal of the third quarter, with Gurcan tallying her third assist.
In the end, six different Beavers would score goals in the contest, as Gurcan and later junior
Elizabeth Field found the back of the net. Gurcan and Mutadich each finished with five points, Gurcan contributing a goal and a game-high four assists, while Mutadich scored three goals and assisted on two of the Beavers' scores.
"Today's game was a testament to our team's effort and unity," Head Coach
Jon Bonafede said. "With six different players scoring, we showcased our strength across the board."
Bonafede gave a special nod to
Emma Gurcan, whose leadership and determination have propelled Caltech Women's Water Polo to new heights in SCIAC play. "She has helped forge a competitive spirit and will leave behind a legacy of sportsmanship and passion for our school and our sport," he said.
Gurcan will be attending graduate school in Paris at the École normale supérieure, pursuing a PhD in Earth Science.
The Beavers will conclude their regular season on the road next weekend, taking on local rival Occidental College on Saturday, April 20 at 11 a.m.
