WHITTIER, CA — The University of La Verne women's water polo team took the lead late in the first quarter and didn't look back, picking up a hard-earned 10-8 win over the Whittier College Poets Wednesday night.

Season Impact

With the win, the Leopards move into a tie with the Poets for third place in the SCIAC and avenge an early season loss to Whittier. The Leopards also surpass last season's conference win total and improve to 6-3 in SCIAC play and 8-11 overall.

Whittier drops to 10-7 overall and 6-3 in conference play.

Red Hot

The Leopards have won five straight SCIAC games and picked up wins in four of their last five outings.

Stat Leaders

Jassmine Kezman led the Leopards with four goals including one in the fourth quarter to extend the Leopards' lead to 9-6. 

Shelby Garcia, who on Monday earned SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors for the second time this season, finished with five saves and two steals.

Ilene Guerrero notched a pair of goals for La Verne, including the dagger with 21 seconds remaining in the game off an assist by Sage Nowell.

Victoria Mezack led the Leopards with three assists and added two steals. 

Kelly Riedel added one goal, two steals, and an assist. Guarina Garcia totaled one goal and two steals and Nowell found the back of the net once.

The Leopards took advantage of their power play attempts, scoring on half of their opportunities.

The Poets were led by Sawyer Bellville's two goals and two steals.

How it Happened

The Leopards wasted no time getting on the board with Kezman scoring the opening goal just 47 seconds into the game.

Tied 3-3 late in the first quarter, Riedel helped put the Leopards back on top when she connected with Guarina Garcia to put La Verne up one. And with just 17 seconds left in the period, Guerrero capitalized off a power play attempt to cap off a five-goal quarter.

La Verne blanked the Poets in the second quarter to take a 6-3 lead into the half and held the poets off in the final 16 minutes.

Beyond the Box Score

Kezman leads the SCIAC with 69 goals and 78 points and Mezack leads the conference with 29 assists.

Next Game

The Leopards have a tough challenge up ahead when they travel down the road to face the first place Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens this Saturday at 3 p.m.