Amidst the Homecoming festivities, the University of Redlands men's water polo team started the day off right with a 12-10 victory over the visiting Poets of Whittier College on Saturday. After jumping out to an early lead, the Bulldogs never trailed en route to the important Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) win at the Thompson Aquatic Center.
Redland captured an early 3-0 lead that ultimately held up through the final play of the game. The Bulldogs eventually made it 10-6 at the half and then turned back the Poets' final attempts to tie it up, prevailing by a two-goal advantage.
Senior center Blake vanHartesvelt (Mercer Island, WA) led the Maroon and Gray's attack with four goals. Senior drive Jeff Parsons (Newark, CA) added a hat-trick performance, while senior driver Danny Boessenecker (Clayton, CA) chipped in a pair of netters. Senior driver Cabot Ferrill (Poway, CA), sophomore driver Clint Freeman (Brentwood, CA) and sophomore driver Quinn Curl (San Mateo, CA) contributed one apiece.
Sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Abbott (Alta Loma, CA) patrolled the Bulldog goal, making four saves in the process.
Redlands (13-14, 4-1 SCIAC) heads to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges' Haldeman Pool on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. SCIAC showdown with the Sagehens.
