The University of Redlands men's water polo team made the short trip to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges for an important Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown against the Stags on Wednesday night. After a tight first half, the Bulldogs struggled through a difficult third quarter that proved to be the difference in an 8-11 decision.
After Redlands jumped on the board with a goal from junior center-defender Ilan Dayan (Sao Paulo, Brazil), CMS uncorked three-consecutive scores to take a 3-1 lead through one period of play.
The Bulldogs answered back in the early part of the second stanza, as junior attack players Grant Curry (San Diego, CA) and Ty Williams (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) each took advantage of a power play to even the tally at three apiece.
The power plays continued, but CMS gained two of the next three successful attempts to regain the lead at 5-4 with 1:21 left in the second period. Curry provided the lone score for the Maroon and Gray during this stretch.
However, the Stags extended their lead late in the quarter to send Redlands into halftime with a two-goal deficit.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the halftime adjustments favored the home team, which rattled off five goals in the third period, while Redlands gained one netter apiece from junior utility player Mitchell Walker (Taylorsville, UT) and senior utility player Max Taylor (Henderson, NV).
Now trailing by five, the Bulldogs worked to create a comeback by shutting out the Stags in the final eight minutes. Dayan and sophomore attack player Carter Kerwin (Bakersfield, CA) found the back of the net late in the game for Redlands, but scoring twice was not enough to complete the late-game rally.
Freshman goalkeeper Chris Martinez (Santa Ana, CA) patrolled the Redlands cage with 13 saves.
Redlands (12-16, 7-6 SCIAC) welcomes the Occidental College Tigers to the Thompson Aquatic Center on Saturday, November 11, for Senior Day at 11 a.m.