O'Connor's Late Goal Gives WWP SCC-Opening Win

Chloe O'Connor's fifth goal of the game with 3:35 left gave the Pasadena City College women's water polo team a South Coast Conference-opening, 7-6 victory over host Chaffey on Wednesday. The Lancers improved to 2-1 overall.

PCC had led 6-3 going into the fourth quarter, but Chaffey (0-2) clawed back with three goals in a 2-minute span including a tying score by Vanessa Murray on the power play.

But O'Connor, who had a part of all seven PCC goals adding two assists, netted her game-winner nearly two minutes after Chaffey had tied it. With 40 seconds left, Jackie Collier stopped a PP shot by the Panthers to seal the victory. Collier had a big game with 10 saves and a team-high five steals. She also stopped a penalty shot late in the first quarter. 

The Lancers had 17 steals overall, including four by Fernanda Alvarez, who also scored two goals and created two assists.

"O'Connor came up big and brought us a balanced attack when Chaffey double-teamed Alvarez," said PCC head coach Terry Stoddard. "We got into some foul trouble late in the match, but our bench did a great job to keep us in it. I thought our team chemistry ruled the day."

On Friday, Sept. 20, the Lancers play at the Southwestern College Mini Tournament as they face host Southwestern at 11:30 a.m. and Grossmont at 3 p.m.