PASADENA, Calif. – Caltech Women's Water Polo hosted the No. 3 Chapman Panthers in Braun Pool on Wednesday evening, narrowly falling 15-13 in what was a fantastic second half for the Beavers.

Caltech only managed two goals in the first half, both coming from Maya Dickson (Atlanta, GA / North Atlanta) who had herself a night. Dickson tallied 11 total points, scoring eight goals and assisting on three others. She also managed two steals and three field blocks in the contest, making her presence felt on both sides of the ball.

As the third quarter began, the Beavers found themselves trailing 10-2, but Caltech was quick to respond. Mia Mutadich (London, U.K. / Notting Hill and Earling) opened the second half scoring, firing a no-look backhand past the goalkeeper to start the rally. Mutadich, the team's leading scorer on the season, finished the game with a goal and an assist and made an impact defensively notching three steals.

Trailing by seven goals, the Beavers began to claw their way back into the game. Goals in the third quarter from Dickson, Yolotzin Subdias (Los Angeles / Eagle Rock), Emma Titus (Hood River, Ore. / Hood River Valley), and Madelyn Gilbert (Clovis, Calif. / Clovis East) allowed the Beavers back into the game as they outscored the Panthers 6-3 in the quarter. 

Entering the fourth quarter, Caltech trailed 13-8 and needed a spark. Dickson, who had already scored four goals to begin the game, stepped up to the occasion. She scored four goals in the period, including on back-to-back possessions to start the fourth. The Beavers trailed 14-10 with under five minutes remaining before scoring three unanswered goals to make it 14-13 with two minutes to play. Caltech outscored the Panthers 11-5 in the second half.

Caltech out-shot the Panthers 38-32 with 18 of those shots coming off the hand of Dickson. Subdias also had a great performance for the Beavers with two goals and four assists to go with a steal and field block on the defensive side. Charlotte Zhang (San Diego, Calif. / Torrey Pines) racked up three assists and four steals in the game as well.

"I was really happy with how we came back in the second half from an eight-goal deficit to make it a one-goal game late in the fourth quarter," said Bonafede. "The team defense in the second half was stellar and it really highlighted our team cohesion and an unselfish work ethic from our team."

"Although we didn't get the win, we felt really good about how we finished this game against the number three team in Division III."

Coach Bonafede and the Beavers will return to action on Saturday in a road game against the Cal Lutheran Regals, with game time set for 11 a.m.

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