ORANGE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Water Polo team (1-12, 0-1 SCIAC) opened their 2024 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) schedule with a narrow two-goal loss at Chapman University 10-8 Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs had a great start to the game as they held the Panthers scoreless for nearly seven minutes to begin the first quarter, while they held a 1-0 lead thanks to an Emma Parker (Yucaipa, CA) goal at the 3:29 mark. After one they trailed 2-1 after giving up two late Panther tallies.

The first two goals of the second quarter went to Redlands who held a 3-2 lead with 4:12 left in the half as Kaitlynn Pierceall (Beaumont, CA) and Ainsley Killian (Beaverton, CA) both took advantage of powerplays.

Chapman tied the game at three soon after, but Parker reclaimed the lead for the U of R :17 seconds later as it was 4-3 with 3:28 on the clock. The Panthers, however, ended the half on a 3-0 run as they took a 6-4 lead into the break.

In the first five minutes the Panthers had managed to make it a four-goal game, 8-4. Less then :30 seconds after the final Chapman goal Killian scored for the second time to pull the Bulldogs within three with 2:48 still to play in the third.

Neither team scored the rest of the third and the opening score of the final quarter came from Chapman with what would be the game-winning goal with 6:50 left.  

Redlands did not go away as they scored three of the next four goals to pull within two, 10-8. Anika Lundbaek (San Anselmo, CA) and Parker both converted on player advantage situations and then Parker converted a five-meter penalty with :20 seconds left. But that would be the final play of the game as the Bulldogs fell on the road.

Parker finished with four goals and four drawn exclusions, Killian had a pair of goals, one assist, one drawn exclusion, and one steal, Pierceall finished with a goal, an assist, and two steals, Marlie Potocki (Joliet, Ill.) tied for a game-high three steals and in goal Evelyn Teeter (Westminster, CA) made 11 saves and had two steals across the 32 minutes.

Redlands hosts Saint Francis University in a non-conference game Thursday, March 7 at the Thompson Aquatic Center (TAC) beginning at 4:00 p.m.