REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands women's water polo team (0-6) dropped their first two home games of the season at the Thompson Aquatic Center (TAC) Saturday morning and afternoon against higher division opponents, Cal State Fullerton (CSUF), 9-7, and Concordia University Irvine (CUI), 12-4.

Game 1: Cal State Fullerton (L, 9-7)

It looked like it was going to be a long morning for the Bulldogs as they trailed by two and had not found the back of the net in the first three plus minutes, but Hannah Long (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), Emma Parker (Yucaipa, CA), and Sofia Portello (Sonoma, CA) all scored as the Bulldogs defense held CSUF scoreless for more than nine minutes helping them take a 3-2 lead in the middle of the second quarter.

Parker added her second goal of the game at the 2:19 mark of the second as the Bulldogs would go into the break tied with the Titans at four.

The Bulldogs struggled to find offense in the second half as they did not find the back of the net for the first 9:20 before Breanna Bailey (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) scored off a Parker assist to get the Bulldogs within one, 6-5, after two Titan goals in the third.

The Titans would take control of the game over the next three minutes as they extended their lead to their largest of four, 9-5. Redlands did pull a pair back in the final 3:36 thanks to Kaitlynn Pierceall (Beaumont, CA) and Long, but they were unable to score in the final two minutes as they lost 9-7.

Long and Parker each had two goals with Parker posting a game-high two assists. In goal Tori Zielinski (Sunnyvale, CA) continued her strong start the season with 11 saves and a steal in goal.

Game 2: Concordia University Irvine (12-4)

Just like their game in the morning, the Bulldogs allowed the opening two goals, but this time it was not until Parker scored in the first minute of the second quarter that Redlands was able to get on the board.

Going into the half the Bulldogs trailed 5-2 with their second goal coming at the 1:15 mark of the second thanks to Danielle Cary (Riverside, Calif.).

After falling behind by five, 7-2, Courtney Sawin (Tacoma, Wash.) was able to score as the Bulldogs continued to spread the offense around.

The final goal of the day for Redlands came with 2:42 remaining in the fourth quarter as Christine Chua (Arcadia, CA) took advantage of a powerplay. Chua was their eighth different player scored in their two games.

Katrina Nielsen (Houston, TX) and Bailey had three and two steals apiece. Zielinski played another 32 minutes, making seven saves.

The Bulldogs will stay at the TAC with another pair of games on Saturday, February 25 with games against Cal State Northridge at 9:00 a.m. and Westcliff at 2:30 p.m.