Men's Water Polo - Andrew Higginson Rare Aire Challenge

Men's Water Polo 9/2/2023 8:44:00 PM

Reigning National Champion Bulldogs drop a pair of games to open Rare Air Challenge

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 COLORADO SPRINGS – The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team opened up the Rare Air Challenge Saturday with a pair of losses to No. 5 UC Davis (L, 29-7) and No. 19 Air Force Academy (L, 14-13).

Game 1 – No. 5 UC Davis (L, 29-7)
Against the Aggies the Bulldogs found themselves down 8-0 after the opening eight minutes and then 16-3 at the break. To open the second half UC Davis outscored the Maroon and Grey 6-1 in the third quarter and then m7-3 in the fourth.

Redlands took just 10 shots for the game, but was at a .700 shooting percentage and was 0-for-2 on exclusions.

Goal scorers included Curren McCarthy (San Clemente, CA) (1), Andrew Higginson (San Diego, CA) (1), Nicolas Fedotov (Miami Beach, CA) (1), Spencer Sellwood (Irvine, CA) (1), Aidan Murphy (Placentia, CA) (1), and Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA) (1). Sellwood also provided an assist along with Wagener, Adam Lambert (St. Louis, MO), Spencer Clinton (Cypress, ca) and a pair from Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, CA).

Roberto Barrera (Guanajuato, Mexico) played all 32:00 minutes between the posts and collected six saves.

Game 2 – No. 19 Air Force Academy (L, 14-13)

Redlands nearly pulled off an upset of the No. 19 ranked Falcons, but a 5-1 deficit in the second quarter proved the difference as UR would fall by one. It was deadlocked after the opening period at 5-5. AFA would go on to outscore the U of R 5-1 in the second to take a 10-6 lead into the half. In the third the Falcons held a slight edge 4-3 and despite the Bulldogs outscoring AFA in the fourth 4-0 it wouldn't be enough to complete the comeback.

Redlands was outshot by ten 39-29, but finished with a .448 shooting percentage. They were also 0-for-8 on power plays and missed a 5-meter penalty.

Higginson led the offense posting three goals and four assists, while Clinton added three goals, two assists and two drawn exclusions. Fedotov also chipped in with three tallies, a drawn exclusion and two steals. Other goal scorers included Dean Moody (Camarillo, CA) (1), Callum Norman (Johannesburg, South Africa) (1), Austin Galanski (Bakersfield, CA) (1), Sorensen (1), and Barrera (1).

Barrera against played all 32:00 minutes between the posts and added another seven saves to his total to go with a .333 save percentage.

Redlands returns for Day 2 action of the event tomorrow, Sunday, September 3 when they take on Johns Hopkins University in a rematch of the USA Division III Collegiate National Championship Semi-Final and Ottawa University (AZ). Both games will be available online via FOSH.

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