REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Water Polo team (1-15, 0-4 SCIAC) got off to fast start, scoring four times in the first quarter against the University of La Verne, but would see the Leos rally in the second half falling 13-9 inside the Thompson Aquatic Center (TAC) Wednesday evening.
The Bulldogs led 3-2 with under a minute remaining in the first quarter as Lucia Notaro (Thousand Oaks, CA), Kennedy Mobley (Wildomar, CA), and Christine Chua (Arcadia, CA) all found the back of the net off assists from Anika Lundbaek (San Anselmo, CA) and Emma Parker (Yucaipa, CA).
With the score tied at three in the final seconds of the first, Bulldog goalkeeper Aubree Nabors (Conroe, TX) passed the ball to her right where Parker shot just as time expired to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead after eight minutes.
In the second quarter, however, Alyssa Sorrell (Highland, CA) was the lone scorer for the Bulldogs and the Leopards would put five past Nabors giving ULV an 8-5 halftime lead.
Things started to get away from Redlands in the third when La Verne scored four more times, while the UR offense continued to look for answers following a scoreless third.
In the fourth quarter the defense stepped up and held the Leopards scoreless for almost seven minutes as Chua and Lundbaek each took advantage of powerplays to draw the Maroon and Grey within five, 12-7, with 2:38 to play.
La Verne put away goal number 13 at the 1:21 mark before Parker and Notaro went back-to-back in the final minute.
The Bulldogs did not make their lives easy defensively, committing 12 exclusions and conceding four five-meter penalties.
Parker, Notaro, and Sorrell, though, drew five, three, and two exclusions, respectively. Offensively Notaro had a big game with two goals and three assists, Lundbaek had a goal and two assists, Parker was the third Bulldog with three plus points after she scored twice and assisted on a third.
In goal Nabors had a strong day with seven saves on 20 shots on goal faced. She also added four steals and an assist.
Redlands remains at the TAC for a match-up with Chapman University this Saturday, March 22 beginning at 11:00 a.m.
