The University of Redlands women's water polo team hosted a tri-match with Concordia University-Irvine and Virginia Military Institute on Tuesday at the Thompson Aquatic Center. The Bulldogs came up short in both contests, falling to CU-I by a score of 6-12, before suffering a 5-11 decision to VMI.
In game one, the CU-I Eagles jumped on the board at the 7:26-mark, but sophomore attack player Rachel Nelson (San Juan Capistrano, CA) equalized the score a minute and a half later. After the Eagles struck again, the Bulldogs looked to junior attack player MaryKate Hunter (Redlands, CA) to tie it up. Sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Jenkins (Bellevue, WA) was a wall between the posts, making six huge stops to keep the score close.
Unfortunately for the home team, the second period proved to be all CU-I, which scored four goals against Redlands.
The Redlands offense snapped back in third, when Nelson, sophomore center Kolby Kahahawai (Kailua, HI), and freshman attack player Olivia Allen (Santa Monica, CA) each chipped in a goal. Despite the Bulldogs' offensive surge, the Eagles also netted three to take a 10-5 lead.
Nelson put one more through the pipes in the fourth, but it was not enough to overcome the Eagles' big second quarter, as the Maroon and Gray eventually fell by a score of 6-12. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Grosswendt (Newbury Park, CA) made four stops in the second half.
During the Bulldogs' second game of the day, the team struggled to initiate its offense through the first period. Redlands faced a three-goal deficit at the start of the second frame. The teams traded two scores apiece through the first seven minutes, with both Bulldog goals coming off the hands of Allen. With very little time left on the clock, junior attack player Michelle Na (Mercer Island, WA) found herself with the ball still halfway across the pool. She launched the ball high and fast over the head of the VMI goalie for a thrilling buzzer-beater. This closed Redlands' gap to 3-5, as the teams headed into the third period.
However, the Keydets blanked the home team in the third by going on a 4-0 run.
Although the Bulldogs gained goals off the hands of Na and sophomore center Carmen Gardner (South San Francisco, CA) in the fourth, Redlands could not overcome the six-goal hole, and eventually lost by a score of 5-11.
Grosswendt and sophomore goalkeeper Allison Totzke (San Bernardino, CA) shared time between the pipes while making eight saves collectively.
In the non-Redlands match, VMI came away with a 10-8 victory over Concordia.
The Bulldogs (4-13) take on Macalester College (MN) on Wednesday, March 15, at 7 p.m.
