REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's water polo team (1-5) dropped a pair of games to division I schools California Baptist University (CBU) and California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) as they wrapped up the Inland Empire Classic (IEC) Saturday.
Redlands 7 – Cal Baptist 18
The Bulldogs dug themselves an early 5-0 hole before Oliver Finley found Adam Lambert for their opener followed by a goal by Finley two minutes later to cut the deficit to four, 6-2, after eight minutes of play.
The Lancers responded to the quick Bulldog run with a 6-1 run in the first seven plus minutes of the second quarter which put Redlands behind by nine, 12-3.
Nick Davidson then assisted Finley on the first goal before scoring off a Finley assist on the second.
Two goals to begin the third quarter, combined with a defensive scoreless stretch of almost four minutes, helped the U of R get to within seven, 13-6, with 4:50 remaining in the quarter.
CBU, however, held Redlands scoreless for the final 10:04 with the final tally coming from Jake Simpson, off a Matthew Wheeler assist, at the 2:04 mark of the third.
Finley had a hat trick and two assists. Simpson scored and drew two exclusions while the freshman Davidson had a goal, two assists, and three drawn exclusions.
Redlands 5 – Cal State Fullerton 11
In the final game of four at the IEC, the Bulldogs' lone first half goal came at the 2:23 mark of the first when Zach Dortch set up Johnny Starr.
In the third and fourth quarters Finley, Blake Minkler, Michael Villagran, and Dortch all found the back of the net.
Redlands will be at CBU on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. for a non-conference game with the Lancers in Riverside.
