The University of Redlands women's water polo team traveled to Cal Lutheran University for the Tina Finali Invitational on Friday afternoon, taking on formidable foes Cal State Bakersfield and Fresno Pacific University. The Bulldogs dropped both contests but gained great experience against these high-quality opponents.
Against CSUB, Redlands struggled to slow down the Roadrunners' attack, resulting in a 6-23 loss. After Bakersfield registered the first score of the contest, the Bulldogs hopped on the board in response with a goal from senior attack player Annie Kinney (Newport Beach, CA) to tie the game at one apiece. Freshman utility player Kolby Kahahawai (Kailua, HI) located the back of the net for the second and final score for the Bulldogs in the opening period.
Kahahawai struck again in the second period for the lone score on both ends of the pool. Senior goalkeeper AC Lopez (Northridge, CA) stepped up big time to blank Bakersfield in the second period while tallying four saves.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs scored only three more goals in the ensuing two periods, with sophomore utility player Stefanie Goldbach (Huntington Beach, CA), Kahahawai, and Kinney each finding the back of the net.
Lopez finished with four saves, while freshman goalkeeper Carmen Gardner (San Jose, CA) hauled in two saves.
Redlands returned to action later that afternoon to take on the FPU Sunbirds. After a competitive first period, the Bulldogs struggled to find the back of the net, which led to a 7-15 decision.
Fresno Pacific came out firing and quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But the Maroon and Gray gained consecutive scores from senior utility player Taylor Christie (Anaheim, CA) to tie it up. Redlands kept its foot on the gas pedal and grabbed a 4-2 lead, with sophomore attack player Rachel Haney (Redmond, OR) and Goldbach firing off netters.
A FPU timeout allowed the Sunbirds to regroup and respond with two more scores before the end of the first period, leading to a knotted score at four-all.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs went cold on the offensive end of the pool during the next two stanzas, before managing three goals in the fourth frame to make it 7-15. Freshman utility player Rachel Nelson (San Juan Capistrano, CA) scored once, while freshman attack player Breanna O'Dea (Rowland Heights, CA) registered two netters.
Redlands (0-6) heads to the Claremont Convergence Tournament on Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5, to face off against various opponents on the campuses of Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
