The fourth-seeded University of Redland men's water polo team opened the 2016 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship Tournament by taking on the fifth-seeded University of La Verne Leopards in Pasadena on Friday evening.  After a tight start, the Bulldogs erupted for a 6-0 run in the second quarter to take the lead and never looked back en route to a youth-inpsired 16-5 victory.

After a tight first quarter that left Redlands trailing by a goal, the Bulldogs quickly regrouped to score five unanswered goals to make it an 8-3 game.  Senior driver Kyle Murata (Brea, CA) initiated the offensive outburst, before junior center-defender Max Taylor (Henderson, NV) uncorked back-to-back scores.  Freshman driver Spencer Allen (Long Beach, CA) and senior center-defender Danny Hartwig (Vista, CA) capped off the impressive quarter with three scores between them. 

Redlands maintained a solid lead through the third period with a well-balanced attack that included three different goal-scorers. 

During the fourth, the Bulldogs kept their foot on the gas pedal and expanded their advantage to nine goals by holding the Leopards scoreless for the second eight-minute period with a great defensive effort.  Senior goalkeeper Chris Sekula (LaGrange, IL) served as the Maroon and Gray's backstop with multiple saves.

Offensively, sophomore center Billy Clifford (Redlands, CA) fired off two-consecutive netters, while sophomore center-defender Mitchell Walker (Taylorsville, UT), freshman driver Cole Kammerer (San Diego, CA), and freshman driver Austin Kent (Redlands, CA) added to the fire power of the fourth quarter.

With the win, the Maroon and Gray heads to the semifinal game against top-seeded Pomona-Pitzer Colleges at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Pasadena City College.