U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. – The defending USA Division III Collegiate National Champion Bulldogs of the University of Redlands men's water polo team (0-2) scored four of the first five goals and five of the final seven in their season opener, but they ultimately fell 18-13 to the Air Force Academy on the road. Later in the afternoon they fell 16-13 to Salem University as day one of the Rare Air Challenge came to an end for the Bulldogs.
Game 1 (Air Force - L, 18-13)
The Bulldogs led 4-1 after the first eight minutes as Kalani Nelson (Torrance, CA), Jake Simpson (El Cajon, CA), Harrison DeCourcy (Alameda, CA), and Camilo Solis (Camarillo, CA) each scored across the final 3:42 of the period. Oliver Finley (Cape Town, South Africa) and Stephen Ramirez (Pasadena, CA) picked up assists during that stretch.
In the second quarter Ramirez found DeCourcy and Solis assisted Finely that tied the game at six at the half.
Trailing 11-6 with 4:17 on the clock in the third the Bulldogs' Troy Barker (Roseville, CA) between the posts found Brody Nielsen (Capitola, CA) on an outlet pass for their seventh goal. Then with 2:03 to play in the third Matthew Wheeler (Visalia, CA) found Nielsen to keep the Bulldogs within five, 13-8.
A 3-0 Falcon run pushed the deficit to eight, 16-8, with 6:34 remaining in the game. Then across the final five plus minutes five of the final seven goals would go to the Maroon and Grey. Tim Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill.) assisted Child, Joseph Madigan (Arlington, VA) found Nelson, and Adam Lambert (St. Louis, MO) found his first two goals of the game thanks to feeds from Noah Tikoo (Oviedo, FL) and Brady Bailey (Ramona, CA).
The Bulldogs' powerplay defense was great, working around 19 exclusions as they allowed the Falcons to only convert on 22.2 percent (4-of-18) of their powerplay opportunities. Barker made eight saves, had an assist, and recorded three steals.
Game 2 (Salem University - L, 16-13)
The Bulldogs ended day one of the Rare Air Challenge with a loss to Salem University as they begin the season 0-2.
Both sides traded goals early as Jensen's tally on a powerplay early in the second quarter tied the game at four. Madigan, Lennon Franklin (Redlands, CA), and DeCourcy had the other three goals.
The Tigers created some space with a 3-0 run down inside of four minutes to play in the opening half. Two minutes later the game was deadlocked at seven after Madigan found DeCourcy with less than two minutes to play.
Three Salem goals over the final 1:22 of the second and two in the first two minutes of the third looked to be enough to put the game away for the Tigers. But a 5-0 Bulldog response evened the score at 12-12 as Redlands held Salem scoreless for nearly ten minutes. Sebas Maccalla (Altadena, CA) picked up his first goal on a powerplay during the stretch.
Despite the great response by the Bulldogs, the Tigers would have the final big push, scoring four of the final five goals to secure the win. Tikoo assisted Solis for the final Bulldog goal.
On the day Nielsen, Solis, Jensen, and Finley had three goals each. Wheeler had three assists, while Madigan, Ramirez, and Tikoo added two. In goal Barker made 10 saves and Nathan Gattorna (Carlsbad, CA) had three in 16 minutes against Salem.
Tomorrow, Saturday, August 30 the Bulldogs take on No. 3 UC Berkeley at 11:00 a.m. and then Mount St. Mary's (MD) at 3:20 p.m.
