In a competitive game at the Thompson Aquatic Center on Wednesday evening, the University of Redlands men's water polo team fell to the Stags of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, 14-17.  Despite firing on all cylinders offensively, it wasn't quite enough for the Bulldogs in the high-scoring contest.

After falling behind in the first period, the Maroon and Gray tied the contest at 5-5 when Bulldog junior center-defender Christian Ogawa (Mira Mesa, CA) found the back of the net with 7:45 remaining in the second stanza.  Sophomore driver Michael Robinson (Corona, CA) gave Redlands the one-goal lead just two minutes later when he scored one of his team-leading five goals.

CMS regained the lead at 7-6, with just over four minutes remaining in the period, but the Bulldogs answered right back when Ogawa struck again to tie the contest.  After two more Stag goals, Redlands sophomore driver David Sekula (LaGrange, IL) pulled one back before the break, cutting the Stag lead to one.

Both teams exchanged scores during the third period, and while the Bulldogs came within one of tying the contest on two occasions, the Stags extended the lead to 14-11 by the end of the stanza. 

Redlands fought to regain the lead in the fourth and final period, but the deficit was too much to overcome, leaving the Bulldogs with the difficult defeat.

In addition to Robinson's five goals, junior drivers Quinn Curl (San Mateo, CA) and Clint Freeman (Brentwood, CA) led the offensive charge, notching two goals apiece.  Junior center Alex Keith (Bellevue, WA) and freshman center-defender Jake Funk (Fremont, CA) both added to the Maroon and Gray attack by finding the back of the net once each.

Junior goalkeeper Tyler Abbott (Alta Loma, CA) recorded 12 saves for Redlands in the match.

Redlands (3-19, 1-4) returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Thousand Oaks to take on Cal Lutheran University at 11 a.m.