CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team (5-10, 1-0 SCIAC) picked up a key 19-15 win against Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Saturday. Then in their afternoon game against No. 19 Cal Baptist University (CBU) the Bulldogs would fall 18-11 to complete their four-game weekend at the Gary Troyer Tournament.
Game 1: Johns Hopkins (W, 19-15)
The Bulldogs came out on fire offensively as they scored 10 of the first 12 goals across the first nine minutes. During those nine minutes their connections came from Spencer Clinton (Cypress, CA), Dean Moody (Camarillo, CA), Nicolas Fedotov (Miami Beach, FL), Brody Nielsen (Capitola, CA), Tanner Whitson (St. Louis, MO)), and Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA). Tanner Stagner (Laguna Niguel, CA) and Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, CA) had assists.
The two sides then traded goals for the final 6:53 as the lead grew to seven, 13-6, at the half. The three goals came from Liam Gore (Glendora, CA), who was assisted by Stephen Ramirez (Pasadena, CA), Ramirez then scored on a penalty, and Callum Norman (Johannesburg, South Africa) took advantage of a powerplay.
After a great offensive first half the Blue Jays held the Bulldogs scoreless for more than six minutes in the third quarter as they went on a 3-0 run to pull within five.
To end the third and to start the fourth Joseph Madigan (Arlington, VA) and Stagner each scored to extend the lead to seven, 16-9.
Ron Gvishi (Kiryat Tivon, Israel) would then find the back of the net twice in the final 3:59 as the Bulldogs got a quality Division III win.
Troy Barker (Roseville, CA) and Michael Bannister (Bainbridge Island, WA) both played 16 minutes with Barker making six saves and collecting five steals, while Bannister had six saves as well with a steal.
Game 2: Cal Baptist University (L, 18-11)
The Bulldogs concluded the Gary Troyer Tournament with their third game against a ranked Division I team as they were unable to keep up with the Lancers.
CBU took the early lead 3-1 before Redlands scored three of the next four as the game was tied at four with 2:41 on the clock in the opening period.
The Lancers looked like they were in control of the game in the second after going on a 4-0 run, but Owen Nishimura (Carlsbad, CA) found Wagener and Clinton found Nielsen for back-to-back goals to draw the U of R within two, 8-6.
Through the end of the first half and the first three minutes of the third quarter CBU scored six of the next seven goals and put the game away as they led 14-7.
Moody finished with a goal, an assist, a steal, and three drawn exclusions. Fedotov continued his well rounded play as he added two goals, four assists, and a steal.
Redlands will finally get into the heart of their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) schedule beginning next Wednesday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m. as they travel to face No. 4 Chapman University.
