WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Water Polo team (4-20, 3-8 SCIAC) lost, 6-5, at Whittier College in another Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game where the Bulldogs trailed at the half before outscoring their opponents in the second.
The Bulldogs were down 3-0 at the end of one and did not score until the 3:15 mark of the second when Christine Chua (Arcadia, CA) was able to beat the Poet keeper for the first time. Thanks to their defensive effort in the second quarter, Redlands was within two, 3-1.
Whittier would look to score the final goal of the half on a powerplay with :35 seconds left, but Courtney Sawin (Tacoma, WA) drew a five-meter penalty on the Poet keeper, which resulted in a penalty, which Emma Parker (Yucaipa, CA) took and converted with nine seconds on the clock as they went into the half down 4-2.
In the third quarter the defense continued to play tough as they shut out the Purple & Gold, but the offense was not able to fully take advantage as they only tallied one goal. That lone connection came at the 2:08 mark when Chua netted a brace on an even strength goal.
After a slow offensive third, the Poets scored :45 seconds into the fourth before Lucia Notaro (Thousand Oaks, CA) found Parker :40 seconds later on a powerplay to keep the deficit at one, 5-4.
After more than four minutes of scoreless play, Whittier was able to find the back of the net for the sixth time with what would be the game-winning goal.
Redlands, though, did continue to fight as Katelyn Dwelley (Wildomar, CA) got on the scoresheet with another Bulldog powerplay goal only :28 seconds later as UR left themselves one minute and 52 seconds to complete the comeback and at least force overtime.
Over the final minute and a half the Bulldogs would turn the ball over and eventually see the Poets run out the clock for the win.
Redlands outshot Whittier 29-21, but their shot percentage was .172 in comparison to the Poets .286. After failing to take advantage of any of the seven Chapman exclusions Monday, they were able to make the Poets pay twice, but they left seven other opportunities out there, which was notable as Whitter went 3-for-4.
Evelyn Teeter (Westminster, CA) had another strong game between the posts as she recorded a save percentage over .500 for the first time since March 20 when she went up against Occidental finishing at .600 with nine saves. Her six goals allowed were also the first single digit game since Redlands beat Whittier on March 23.
Redlands ends their 2024 season this Saturdaym April 13 at 11:00 a.m. when they travel to Pasadena to face-off with the California Institute of Technology.
