After honoring seniors Deandra Van Houten (Hungtington Beach, CA) and Tricia Bannister (Naperville, IL) prior to the first whistle, the University of Redlands women's water polo team completed the celebration with an exciting 8-7 victory over the visiting Tigers of Occidental College on Sunday at the Thompson Aquatic Center.  In an incredibly tight battle, the Bulldogs eked out the win by breaking a late tie and making key defensive stops down the stretch.

With the score knotted at five apiece at the start of the final period, Redlands gained back-to-back goals from junior utility player Taylor Christie (Anaheim, CA) to create a small cushion with 4:14 remaining on the clock.

However, the Tigers found the back of the net on their subsequent possession to make it a one-score game.

The teams traded fruitless possessions over the next minute, before Bulldog junior attacker Annie Kinney (Newport Beach, CA) rifled a long-distance shot past the Oxy goalkeeper at the 2:44-mark of the fourth frame.

Although the Tigers managed one more netter, Redlands stepped up its defense and held on for the important Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) win by a score of 8-7.

The Bulldogs relied on a diverse offense that saw seven different players score in the triumph.  In addition to those already mentioned, Van Houten, junior utility player Caitlyn Freeman (Brentwood, CA), junior attacker Meg Claypool (Portland, OR), freshman attacker Rachel Haney (Redmond, OR), and freshman attacker Alea Weber (Haiku, HI) each provided a goal for the Maroon and Gray.

Junior goalkeeper AC Lopez (Northridge, CA) patrolled the Redlands cage and made eight stops in a full-game effort.

Redlands (6-23, 4-4 SCIAC) heads to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges to compete in the SCIAC Championship Tournament on Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26.  As the fifth seed, the Bulldogs face off against the fourth-seeded Chapman University Panthers at 7 p.m.