REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team (1-5) took their first game of the 2025 season beating Fresno Pacific University (FPU), 14-6, Friday afternoon in their first of four games at the Inland Empire Classic (IEC). In the nightcap, they battled Iona University, but ultimately came up short, 13-12.

Game 1 (Fresno Pacific University; W, 14-6)

The Bulldogs held an early 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Oliver Child (Dana Point, CA), Harrison DeCourcy (Alameda, CA), and Ossie Joplin (Kentfield, CA). Leading 4-2 after a Joseph Madigan (Arlington, VA) tally, the Sunbirds scored the next two goals to tie the game at four with 3:27 remaining in the first half.

Tim Jensen (Elmhurst, Ill.) and Brody Nielsen (Capitola, CA) converted on each of their chances in the final two plus minutes of the first half as the Bulldogs took a 6-4 lead into the break.

The 2-0 run to end the first half extended to 5-0 in the first four minutes of the second as Oliver Finley (Cape Town, South Africa), Jensen, and Michael Villagran (Glendora, CA) pushed the lead to five, 9-4.

Following a powerplay goal from FPU, Redlands ended their home opener at the Thompson Aquatic Center (TAC) with five of the final six connections securing their first win.

Finley scored two of the five goals with the other three coming from Madigan, Jake Simpson (El Cajon, CA), and Brady Bailey (Ramona, CA). Backup keeper Nathan Gattorna (Carlsbad, CA) assisted Bailey.

Troy Barker (Roseville, CA) got the start in goal and played the first half where he registered three saves and had a steal. Gattorna posted two saves, a steal, and an assist in the final 16 minutes.

Game 2 (Iona University; L, 13-12)

Iona got off to a fast start with the first three goals before Madigan, Simpson, and Adam Lambert (St. Louis, MO), off an assist from Lennon Franklin (Redlands, CA), tied the game with 4:22 on the clock in the second quarter.

Each side scored twice to end the first half remaining deadlocked at five following 16 minutes.

Much like the first half, each side traded 3-0 runs in the second with Joplin and Finley leading the charge to tie the game at eight. Joplin had two goals and an assist during the stretch.

The Gaels again took a multi-goal lead with 6:20 remaining in the game after they scored three of four. A DeCourcy goal slowed the run temporarily before Iona made it a 13-10 game with 2:48 on the clock.

Redlands did not go away, though, as Simpson found Madigan and Franklin assisted Joplin who was playing as an extra field player in a seven-on-six situation.

Iona would quickly turn the ball over with around :40 seconds to play and Madigan drew an exclusion with :31 seconds left, which gave the Bulldogs a chance to tie the game. But Tanner Stagner's (Laguna Niguel, CA) shot, however, was saved and the Gaels were able to use the remainder of the clock.

Barker finished with 11 saves and stole possession four times in goal. Simpson, Madigan, and Joplin scored eight of their 12 goals.

Redlands plays the University of the Pacific at 9:00 a.m. and University of California, Irvine at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, September 6.