REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's water polo team (6-10, 2-1 SCIAC) cruised past Occidental College, 14-6, Wednesday evening at the Thompson Aquatic Center (TAC).
Following the opening goal by the Tigers, Matthew Wheeler (Visalia, CA) found Tanner Stagner (Laguna Niguel, CA) and Michael Villagran (Glendora, CA) for a 2-1 U of R lead. Not long after Villagran scored, Wheeler found Camilo Solis (Camarillo, CA) for a 3-1 lead.
From the end of the first quarter through the middle of the third, Redlands conceded only once over a period of more than 16 minutes, while their offense tallied five goals.
Those five goals came from Ossie Joplin (Kentfield, CA), off an Oliver Finley (Cape Town, South Africa) assist, Adam Lambert (St. Louis, MO), Finley from Lambert, Lennon Franklin (Redlands, CA) from Finley, and Nick Davidson (Honolulu, HI) who helped cap off the run when he assisted Zach Dortch (Alameda, CA) for an 8-3 Bulldog lead with 3:57 on the clock in the third.
Despite conceding twice over the final two minutes of the third, Jake Simpson (El Cajon, CA) found the back of the net twice, once with :51 ticks left in the third and the other with 5:44 on the clock in the fourth. Joseph Madigan (Arlington, VA) assisted on the first of Simpson's goals.
Over the final 4:41 the Bulldogs put the finishing touches on the win with goals by Lambert, Davidson, and Brady Bailey (Ramona, CA).
Wheeler led the way with four points thanks to four assists. Finley had three points on a goal and two assists. Lambert also had the same line as Finley plus he added three steals. Davidson's three points came from a pair of assists and a goal.
Septime De Bonnafos (Marseille, France) made six saves and had a steal as he played the full 32 minutes in goal.
Redlands heads on the road this Saturday, October 10 when they travel to the University of La Verne for an 11:00 a.m. game.
