Jan. 29, 2017

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The 20th-ranked LMU women's water polo team started the season with a pair of wins on Saturday, defeating Whittier, 20-6, and Pomona-Pitzer, 13-6, at the California Baptist Mini Invitational in Riverside, Calif.

Senior Caitlin Schafer exploded on offensive for the Lions (2-0), leading them with 10 goals in the two games, including a career-high seven goals against Whittier (0-1). The seven goals in one game is the second most in LMU history, tying four others who tallied that many in a single game. Nicole Hughes holds the record of eight goals in a game, doing it twice.

On defense, the Lions were paced by junior goalie Claire Wright, who returned to the program this season after two seasons training with the Canadian National Team. She called 24 saves in the two games, including 14 saves against Pomona-Pitzer (0-4).

Morgan Molloy was second on the team on the day with four goals, while Lauren Owens had five total points, scoring three goals with two assists. Kiana Harpstrite, Annika Armstrong and Katie Hungerford added three goals each.

UP NEXT

The young season will get serious fast as the Lions now head to the loaded Stanford Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4-5. They will open with top-ranked Stanford on Saturday at 8:30 am, followed by sixth-ranked UC Irvine at 4:30 pm. They will then face eighth-ranked Hawaii on Sunday at 8:30 am before playing in the tournament final that afternoon at either 2 or 3:15 pm.