Redlands Women's Lacrosse Displays Grit in Loss to Tigers

Photo credit: Chango Chavez
Photo credit: Chango Chavez

The University of Redlands women's lacrosse team hit the road for a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) contest against Occidental College on Wednesday evening.  Despite putting together a solid second half, the Bulldogs suffered a 6-17 loss to the Tigers.

After senior midfielder Hanna Morford (West Linn, OR) scored off a free-position shot with 16:18 left in the first half, the Bulldogs struggled to counter the Tigers' offense, as the home team entered the halftime break with an 11-1 advantage.

Nonetheless, Redlands showed great determination by battling in the second stanza.  Less than two minutes into the frame, junior midfielder Sadie Pickering (Tacoma, WA) found senior attacker Kelsey Ruhl (Seattle, WA), who fired one past the Tiger goalkeeper.  

Over the next few minutes, first-year goalkeeper Kallie Collett (Manhattan Beach, CA) came up with big stops before first-year midfielder Maeve Wiencek (Sherwood, OR) found the back of the net at the 22:36-mark for her first goal in a Bulldog uniform.

Although Oxy notched two goals to take a 13-3 lead, Redlands immediately responded on its next possession.  After Ruhl hauled in the draw control, the Bulldogs worked the ball around until first-year attacker Maddie Bush (Ladera Ranch, CA) dished the ball to Morford for a quality score.  Following additional saves by Collett, Morford and Bush teamed up for another Redlands goal with 9:58 remaining.

Despite a three-goal outburst by the Tigers late in the game, the Bulldogs worked to finish the night on a high note, as first-year midfielder Sydney Louie (Lafayette, CA) delivered a dime of a pass to first-year midfielder Ashley Rende (Mission Viejo, CA) for the buzzer-beater on her inaugural goal as a Bulldog.  The Maroon and Gray's final possession began with first-year midfielder Alison Waddles' (Long Beach, CA) first collegiate draw control.

Defensively, Redlands gained eight saves from Collett and six from first-year goalkeeper Annie Van Norstrand (Littleton, CO), who patrolled the pipes during the first half.  In addition, first-year defender Kaitlyn Lesko (Dacula, GA) nabbed four ground balls and forced three Tiger turnovers. 

Redlands (0-3, 0-3 SCIAC) heads to Sewanee, TN, for two games during Spring Break.  First, the Bulldogs take on Piedmont College (GA) on Sunday, March 3, at 10 a.m. CT and then face Sewanee on Tuesday, March 5, at 1 p.m. CT.