CLAREMONT, Calif. – The No. 2 ranked University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team (12-6, 3-1 SCIAC) lost their first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game of the season as they fell 9-8, on the road against No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Wednesday evening. The Bulldogs tied the game at eight with :18 seconds left but the Stags were able to come down and score the game-winner with two seconds left.  

Things started quick for both offenses as they each scored in the first minute of the game with SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week Dean Moody (Camarillo, CA) scoring off an Adam Lambert (St. Louis, MO) assist.

That Bulldog goal was the lone score in the first as UR trailed by four, 5-1 after eight minutes of play.

After allowing five scores in the opening quarter, Redlands defense tightened up and held the Stags scoreless for the final 8:31 as Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA) scored off a Ron Gvishi (Kiryat Tivon, Israel) assist with 1:43 left in the half to pull the Bulldogs within three, 5-2.

The Bulldogs' run reached 3-1 with 3:17 on the clock in the third as they trailed by only two, 6-4. At that point the defense had held CMS to one goal in more than 13 minutes.

The two sides would trade scores to end the third as Andrew Higginson (San Diego, CA) converted on a penalty with :15 seconds remaining in the quarter as they headed into the fourth down two, 7-5.

In the first four minutes of the fourth, the Bulldogs managed to shutout the Stags while Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, CA) and Moody each scored to tie the game for the first time since the first :58 seconds of the game. Higginson assisted on Moody's goal.

CMS would go back on top only :20 seconds after Redlands tied it and they maintained that lead until a Spencer Sellwood (Irvine, CA) goal off a Gvishi assist, on a powerplay with :18 seconds left in regulation, tied it at eight. Following a timeout, the Stags were able to score the game-winner to take this first matchup of the top two teams in Division III, 9-8.

The Bulldogs return home to the Thompson Aquatic Center this Saturday, October 14 when they host No. 6 California Lutheran University at 11:00 a.m. during homecoming.