Monica Zdrojewski led Harvard with three goals as the Crimson downed Whittier in its second game in California (photo courtesy Harvard Athletic Communications).

WHITTIER, Calif. – Monica Zdrojewski netted her fourth hat trick of the year and the Harvard women's water polo rolled to a 15-4 win over Whittier Monday night. The Crimson evened its record during the second game of its California trip. Harvard will play three more games in the next five days in the Golden State.

The Crimson and Poets played a tight first quarter, going back-and-forth with successful defensive stands before the frame ended in a 1-1 tie.

Harvard came out of the first-quarter break with an offensive charge. The Crimson scored four times and allowed just one goal to build a 5-2 lead entering halftime.

The lead grew in the second half as Harvard continued its offensive push. The Crimson tallied four goals in the third frame and six more over the last eight minutes.

Whittier scored one goal in each of the last two quarters to total four in the game, the fourth-best defensive performance for the Crimson this season.

Other than Zdrojewski's three goals, a trio of Crimson added a pair. Aisha Price, Shannon Purcell and Elise Molnar score twice apiece. Purcell also added three assists.

Price, Molnar and Victoria Frager led Harvard on the defensive end with three steals each. Ariel Dukes made four saves in goal, before Jasmine Griffin relieved Dukes and picked up a pair of stops in the last half of the fourth quarter.

Harvard will take three days off from competition before meeting Long Beach State March 16.

Harvard 15, Whittier 4
Goals
Aisha Price 2
Lizzie Abbott
Shannon Purcell 2
Devan Kennifer
Riley Kessler
Elise Molnar 2
Monica Zdrojewski 3
Victoria Frager
Kalina Grabb
Shayna Price

Assists
Shannon Purcell 3
Devan Kennifer
Elise Molnar
Monica Zdrojewski 2
Shayna Price
Ariel Dukes 2

Steals
Aisha Price 3
Shannon Purcell 
Riley Kessler
Elise Molnar 3
Victoria Frager 3
Kalina Grabb
Shayna Price

Saves
Ariel Dukes 4
Jasmine Griffin 2