REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team (7-16, 5-2 SCIAC) began their Saturday off with an 18-4 win over the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) at the Thompson Aquatic Center (TAC) before a narrowly beating Long Island University (LIU), 14-10.
Game 1 (Caltech; W, 18-4)
The Bulldogs got two goals from Oliver Finley (Cape Town, South Africa) in the first :45 seconds before Tim Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill.) found Ossie Joplin (Kentfield, CA) for a 3-0 UR lead less than a minute and a half after the opening whistle.
The two sides traded goals until the final :35 seconds when Tanner Stagner (Laguna Niguel, CA) fed Oliver Child (Dana Point, CA) followed by Jake Simpson (El Cajon, CA) converting a penalty for a 6-2 lead after eight minutes. Harrison DeCourcy (Alameda, CA) scored the other goal of the quarter thanks to a good look inside by Camilo Solis (Camarillo, CA).
The 2-0 run to end the first quarter extended to 5-0 in the second as the Bulldogs led 9-2. Sebas Maccalla ( helped Redlands take advantage of a powerplay as he assisted Franklin. Maccalla then fed Kalani Nelson (Torrance, CA) and Simpson picked up an assist on DeCourcy's second of the game.
In the final 2:34 the Beavers scored for the first time in more than seven minutes before Joseph Madigan (Altadena, CA) and Liam Gore (Glendora, CA) each found the back of the net on man-up opportunities to take the Bulldogs into the half up 11-3.
Subbing into goal at halftime Nathan Gattorna (Carlsbad, CA) sent a long pass down the pool to Madigan for a goal at the 3:54 mark as he scored his second of the third quarter that made it 13-3.
A Beaver goal with 3:36 on the clock was the final tally conceded. Redlands finished the game with two goals allowed over the final minute.
Noah Tikoo (Oviedo, FL) scored the third and final goal of the third quarter after Gore found him open for a shot. The last four scores came in the fourth as Solis, Brady Bailey (Ramona, CA), Stephen Ramirez (Pasadena, CA), and Michael Villagran (Glendora, CA) all beat the Beaver keeper.
DeCourcy had two goals and two drawn exclusions, Madigan had a hat trick and one exclusion drawn, Child and Joplin also had two exclusions forced, and Finley made it three Bulldogs with multi-goal games. Troy Barker (Roseville, CA) made three saves and had a steal in the first 16 minutes, while Gattorna made eight saves with a steal and an assist.
Game 2 (LIU; W, 14-10)
The Bulldogs got off to a fast start in their second game on the day with a 5-2 lead with less than two minutes to go in the first quarter. Joplin, Solis, Simpson, Finley, and Franklin all posted finishes.
LIU, though, came back to tie the game at six at the 3:48 mark of the second quarter. Redlands responded with two unanswered goals over the final 1:45 of the first half leading by two, 8-6, at the break.
The Sharks pulled within one in the first minute of the third quarter, but Maccalla and Simpson combined for a quick 2-0 run that gave the Bulldogs enough space to close out the second half as they conceded only three times over the final 14 plus minutes.
Gattorna made 11 more saves as he got the win. DeCourcy, Child, and Nelson all drew a pair of exclusions, while Finley had three along with two goals and an assist.
Redlands goes on the road for a match-up with the University of La Verne this Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m.
