REDLANDS, Calif. – Injuries have plagued the University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team and it was felt Wednesday night as they fell 11-9 in a close contested matchup with 2019 reigning Division III National Collegiate Champions Whittier College.

The Maroon and Grey were without their top two goalies and had a couple of other injuries to key reserves as they were forced to take on the Poets short-handed.  They had their opportunities and gave WC all they could and despite putting together five unanswered to end the game it wasn't enough as they fell 11-9.

Redlands has now dropped five in a row and move to 1-11, 0-2 SCIAC. 

The difference in the game was the opening eight minutes with UR being outscored 4-0 by the Poets.  They managed to stay right with the Purple & Gold in the middle frames putting up three goals in the second and another two in the third.  Then despite outscoring Whittier 4-2 in the final period it wasn't enough to pull off the upset.

UR found themselves in a 5-0 hole to start the second quarter but fought back getting strikes from Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, CA), Tor Cole (Malibu, CA), and Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA).  Trailing 7-3 heading into the third they got another two goals from Ron Gvishi (Albany, CA) and Wagener that kept them within striking distance.  Then in the fourth the Bulldogs mounted their comeback with Owen Nishimura (Carlsbad, CA), Cole and Michael Maher (Fremont, CA) again finding the back of the net.  Redlands had their opportunities getting a 2-on-1 late that missed left, not converting a penalty shot and then not capitalizing on a power play with an open goal.            

U of R outshot the Poets 30-25, finished with a .300 shot percentage and were 2-for-3 on penalties.  Jason Gates (San Jose, CA) played all 32:00 minutes between the posts and added five stops and a .313 save percentage.   

Redlands returns to the pool next Wednesday, September 29 searching for their first conference victory as they take on Chapman University on the road beginning at 7:00pm.