(Written by Gian D'Ambra, SSU Sports Information Student Assistant)

LOS ANGELES -- On the opening day of the Loyola Marymount Invitational, the Sonoma State women's water polo team suffered a pair of losses, including a narrow 7-6 loss to Whittier and a 16-4 loss to Hartwick.  The Seawolves' three-game win streak was snapped as they fell to 5-14 this season.

In the opening game of the LMU Invite, Sonoma State faced the Whittier College Poets, and despite a second half surge, the Seawolves fell 7-6.
    
Not even three minutes into the game the Seawolves tied the score at 1-1 with a goal by Noelle Herrera. By the end of the first quarter Sonoma State was down 2-1, a deficit it wouldn't be able to fully overcome. The first half ended with the Poets ahead 4-2 because of a goal with just over a minute left by Tessa deRecat.
    
Andrea Mallul then only allowed two goals on four attempts in the third quarter while her offense netted three goals of their own. Herrera put in her second goal of the game, and Alexa May and Brittny Hummel each scored in the third to cut the Poets' lead to 6-5.
    
Scoring was at a minimum in the final quarter as the lone Seawolf goal came with just 1:23 left in regulation. Nicole Browning tied the game at 6-6, but the Poets wouldn't allow the Seawolves to complete the comeback. With merely 31 seconds left to play, Whittier's Isabella Gorrocino scored to seal the 7-6 victory for the Poets.
    
In their second game of the day the Seawolves faced the Hawks of Hartwick College at 1:00 p.m. This was the second meeting between the two schools this year with the Hawks getting the upper hand in the first match, 16-9. This game also ended in favor of Hartwick, 16-4.
    
Hartwick was the only team with a lead in this one as they opened up the game with two goals in just over three minutes and never looked back. May and Herrera each netted a goal in the first quarter, but that would account for half of the Seawolves scoring in this match. Hartwick lead 4-2 after one quarter of play and extended that lead to 8-3 by the end of the first half. May put in the only Seawolf goal of the second quarter.
    
The Hawks were the only team to score in the third quarter, outscoring Sonoma State 4-0. The final Seawolf goal of the day was scored by Caitlin Risden with just 1:46 left in the game to make the score 15-4. The Hawks would add on one more insurance goal and finish the game at 16-4.
    
Sonoma State opens play in the second day of the LMU Invitational at 8:00 am Saturday against the 10th-ranked Princeton Tigers. The Seawolves then play their final game of the Invitational against the Brown University Bears. First sprint in that game is scheduled for 1:00 pm.