REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team (3-11, 2-0 SCIAC) edged Chapman University 17-15 in overtime on Wednesday evening at the Thompson Aquatic Center (TAC) in the first meeting since the two played in the USA Division III Collegiate National Championship game last December.
The Bulldogs struggled in the first and fourth quarters, scoring only two goals, but in the middle 16 minutes they beat the Panther keeper 12 times.
The lone goal in the first period came from Adam Lambert (St. Louis, MO) who scored the first goal of the game only on the Bulldogs' opening possession.
With a scoreless drought of more than eight minutes, Matthew Wheeler (Visalia, CA) started a 6-2 run that put the Bulldogs up two, 7-5, at the half.
During the run Lambert, Oliver Finley (Cape Town, South Africa), Lennon Franklin (Redlands, CA), Tim Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill.), and Brody Nielsen (Capitola, CA) each found the back of the net with Tanner Stagner (Laguna Niguel, CA) and Harrison DeCourcy (Alameda, CA) each picking up assists.
During the third quarter Redlands converted six shots into goals as they were plus three in the quarter taking a 13-8 lead into the final eight minutes.
Franklin began the third quarter scoring with a penalty before Jensen followed also converting from five meters with 6:10 on the clock. Jensen scored two more times with Nielsen and Stagner also recording tallies.
Despite the great 16 minute stretch, the offense went cold for the Maroon and Grey, and Chapman scored six times to even the score at 14-14 forcing overtime after scoring with only four seconds remaining.
In overtime it was all Bulldogs, Jensen found DeCourcy and Finley scored twice as the U of R led by three, 17-14, with 2:36 remaining. The Panthers did pull one back but that was all that was allowed as Redlands stayed undefeated in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play.
Jensen and Finley each had four goals and two assists. Nielsen, Franklin, and Lambert had two each.
Defensively Franklin and Finley had two steals each. Troy Barker (Roseville, CA) made 12 saves between the posts and played the full 32:00 minutes.
Redlands plays Concordia University Irvine and California State University, Fullerton at the Gary Troyer Tournament this Friday, October 3 at 12:15pm and 4:00pm.
