LA VERNE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team (8-16, 6-2 SCIAC) took care of business at the University of La Verne Wednesday night as they got a 14-10 road win thanks to six Oliver Finley (Cape Town, South Africa) goals.
Being held scoreless with less than four minutes to play in the opening quarter Finley and Harrison DeCourcy (Alameda, CA) scored three times to put the Bulldogs in front, 3-1, after eight minutes. Michael Villagran (Glendora, CA) and Troy Barker (Roseville, CA) had the assists.
La Verne came back and tied the game at three in the first minute and a half of the second before a 2-0 Redlands' run, with goals from Finley and Ossie Joplin (Kentfield, CA), restored the two-goal advantage at the half, 5-3.
After Lennon Franklin's (Redlands, CA) goal made it a three-goal lead early in the third, the Leopards drew within one once again with 4:16 to play in the quarter. Tanner Stagner (Laguna Niguel, CA) then moved the ball around to Finley for a powerplay goal and Tim Jensen (Elmhurst, CA) scored his first as Redlands was back ahead by three, 8-5, with 1:59 on the clock.
The Leopards made one last push, scoring two of three goals from the end of the third through the beginning of the fourth, putting them only two back, 9-7, with 7:09 remaining.
But a 4-0 Redlands run, however, ended the comeback attempt. Kalani Nelson (Torrance, CA) and Finley each scored twice with Jensen and Adam Lambert (St. Louis, MO) picking up assists for a 13-7 lead.
Villagran set up Joplin for the 14th and final Bulldog goal as the three late Leopard scores were too little, too late.
Finley finished with six goals and an assist. Franklin, Joplin, and Nelson each had braces, while Villagran added two assists. In goal Barker made seven saves, had an assist, and two steals.
Redlands heads to Chapman University this Saturday, November 1 for a morning match-up beginning at 11 a.m.
