REDLANDS, Calif. - The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team faced off against No. 2 California Lutheran University on Saturday during Homecoming and, despite getting off to a strong start, was unable to pull off the upset as they fell 11-8.
The Maroon and Grey defended well, conceding just four goals in the first half, but were unable to manage enough offense down the stretch, as they fell to 5-18, 2-7 SCIAC.
Cal Lutheran jumped out in front 2-0 early in the 1st Quarter but saw that lead slip away, as Redlands scored three unanswered to close out the period. Junior Drake Moody (Camarillo, Calif.) got the scoring started for UR with an unassisted strike. Tor Cole (Malibu, Calif.) followed, forcing a turnover and finding a combination of Ron Gvishi (Albany, CA) to Spencer Clinton (Cypress, Calif.) inside to even things up. Finally, Gvishi put the Bulldogs on top, getting fed by Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA).
It was a slow start to the 2nd Quarter for the Maroon and Grey, seeing CLU go back on top by capitalizing on a man-up advantage. But with 1:15 left in the first half, first-year Owen Nishimura (Carlsbad, Calif.) found the equalizer from inside 2-meters, which deadlocked the game at 4-4.
The 3rd Quarter was slow offensively for the first four and a half minutes until CLU took the lead at the 3:20-mark. After that, four goals were scored with the Purple & Gold extending their lead to two following a UR turnover. Nishimura successfully connected from inside set for a second time to make it a one-goal game and was followed by senior Bradley Clinton (Cypress, Calif.) connecting with first-year Austin Galanski (Bakersfield, Calif.) for the equalizer at the 1:41 mark. This was plenty of time for CLU, which used it to add the go-ahead goal late for a 7-6 lead heading into the 4th.
A combined six goals were scored across the final eight minutes. It only took Redlands :29 seconds to get even, thanks to Moody's second goal of the match, with an assist going to Galanski. But that's as close as UR would get, as CLU rattled off four straight to go in front 11-7. Junior Michael Maher (Fremont, Calif.) tried to create some momentum late when he was set up by Galanski for his first goal of the game, but it came with under a minute to play and it wasn't enough to gain any traction.
The Bulldogs outshot the Kingsmen 36-26 on the morning, but their efficiency is where they were at a disadvantage, shooting only .222 compared to CLU's .423. UR was also 0-for-5 on power-plays, compared to CLU, which went 2-for-5.
Moody had a game-high 10 shots with two goals and added two steals. Nishimura had two goals on four shots. Galanski had two assists and a goal, First-year Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, Calif.), Gvishi, and S. Clinton each had two steals.
Brandon Khalil (Bakersfield, CA) played all 32:00 minutes between the posts and finished with seven saves and a steal.
Redlands now travels for a pair of road contests this week, beginning with Whittier College on Wednesday, October 27, at 7:00pm. With this upcoming game, the U of R will now have played the top three teams within Division III in back-to-back-to-back action.