Chapman starts off conference play with 13-9 victory over Occidental

Chapman goalkeeper Wes Hertel makes a save. (Photo courtesy Chapman sports information/Larry Newman, For OC Sports Zone)

The Chapman University men’s water polo team started off its conference schedule with a 13-9 win over visiting Occidental on Wednesday. The Panthers pulled ahead in the second quarter to take control of the match and never relinquished the lead.

Sophomore Grahaham Asalone scored three goals and distributed six assists while sophomore Andy Anguiano also scored his own hat trick while drawing six ejections. Senior Wes Hertel recorded eight saves in goal.

The Panthers pulled ahead early only to see Oxy fight back to tie the match at 3-3 just three seconds before halftime. The Tigers took their one and only lead of the match with a goal early in the second quarter.

Asalone’s first goal of the night tied the match back up at 4-4 and sparked a four-goal flurry that ran through halftime and into the fourth quarter. Freshman Tanner Frost and Anguiano scored before halftime to make it a 6-4 halftime lead. Freshman Andy Colmignoli scored less than a minute into the third quarter and build the lead to 7-4.

Occidental ended the streak with a third quarter goal from Nate Fisher but the Panthers responded by scoring six of the next eight goals. Asalone scored Chapman’s final goal with 5:23 left but saw the lead grow to 13-7.

Chapman remains home to take on Redlands on Saturday at 11 a.m.

—Courtesy Chapman sports information