Following a one-year hiatus from the top of the standings, the University of Redlands men's soccer team clinched the 2010 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship with Saturday's 1-0 victory over the Poets of Whittier College. This brings the program's total to 10 conference crowns, which includes eight in a row from 2001-2008.

In last night's defensive battle, Redlands mustered the lone score, but it proved to be sufficient for the win and the championship. At the 60th minute, junior forward Alex Laughton (Pleasanton, CA) pushed one past the out-of-position Poet goalkeeper toward the near post, giving him four goals on the 2010 campaign.

Just moments before, junior forward Jamie Griffin (Seattle, WA) controlled the ball in the middle of the Whittier box but two defenders smothered his attempt and sent the clear in Laughton's direction.

Whittier out-shot the Bulldogs by an 18-12 margin, with none closer than when junior midfielder Patricio Carregha (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) drove the ball toward the Redlands net at the 77th minute and demanded a diving stop by freshman goalkeeper Andreas Silva (San Jose, CA). Silva registered six saves in 90 minutes of shutout action.

Along with the coveted title, Redlands garners the top seed in the 2010 SCIAC Postseason Tournament and looks forward to hosting fourth-seeded Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Thursday at 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the gate of Farquhar Field with general admission set for $5. Children 12 and under as well as those with a photo ID from any SCIAC institution will receive free admission to the game.