To minimize harsh physical play in the sport of water polo, referees will not just call fouls that result in change of possession, but major fouls that result in what are called exclusions. The player must go to the "sin bin" or in this case out of the pool play area for 20 seconds or until other team scores--whatever comes first.

In the Pasadena City College women's water polo team's season opener last week, only three exclusions were called on the two teams combined in the Lancers overtime win over Rio Hondo.

But on Wednesday in PCC's home-away-from-home opener at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, a fan reading the box score of its South Coast Conference game v.  Chaffey might have thought there was blood in the water after 16 exclusions and three penalty shot fouls were whistled on the squads. The excessive calls benefited Chaffey more than the host Lancers as the Panthers scored five power play goals and two others on penalty throws in defeating Pasadena, 17-14.

Behind 10 goals by sharp shooter Clarissa Baneulos, Chaffey picked up its first win of the season at 1-3 (1-1 in SCC play) while the Lancers fell to 1-1 (1-1 in SCC). 

PCC had its chances on the player advantage, scoring four on the power play including Nicky Hale tallying a PP goal on a pass from Marina Schulz to cut Chaffey's lead to 14-13 with 4:51 remaining in the game. Yet another PCC exclusion followed that allowed Banuelos to bury another hard PP shot for what proved to be the game-winning score (15-13 at that point) with 4:29 left. Just 15 seconds later, Lancer Lilah Caputi lobbed a shot over the head of Chaffey goalie Kailey Ortega for her first collegiate goal. Pasadena tied Chaffey seven different times, the last at 11-11 after three quarters.

Schulz scored a team-high four goals and Leila Jimenez tallied three goals and three assists to lead the PCC scoring. Mia Hernandez and Lilian Tahmasian each netted a pair of goals while Caputi added four assists.

On Friday, Oct. 1, the Lancers next play what will be their final home game of the season v. El Camino College at Poly High. Game time is 4:15 p.m.