The University of Redlands women's water polo team competed in the Bruin Invitational on Sunday when it took on No. 2 UCLA and No. 11 San Jose State University in non-conference action. The Bulldogs struggled against the top NCAA Division I foes, falling to the Bruins, 2-23, and the Spartans, 8-28.
In both contests, Redlands saw the opponents grab early leads that provided too much of a deficit for the Maroon and Gray to overcome.
Against UCLA, senior attack player Annie Kinney (Newport Beach, CA) accounted for both Bulldog goals.
Senior goalkeeper AC Lopez (Northridge, CA) and freshman goalkeeper Carmen Gardner (San Jose, CA) patrolled the Redlands cage, earning eight saves between them.
Leading the offense against SJSU, sophomore attack player Rachel Haney (Redmond, OR) notched three netters for the Bulldogs. In addition, sophomore attack player Michelle Na (Mercer Island, WA) added a score in the first period, while freshman utility player Kolby Kahahawai (Kailua, HI) and freshman attack player Sami Walker (Taylorsville, UT) each found the back of the net in the second stanza.
Redlands had its most productive showing in the third quarter, as Haney, Kinney, and senior utility player Caitlyn Freeman (Brentwood, CA) provided a goal apiece.
Lopez and freshman goalkeeper Kelly Grosswendt (Newbury Park, CA) shared time in the cage, earning a combined five saves.
Redlands (5-20, 1-4 SCIAC) looks forward to celebrating Senior Night on Wednesday, April 6, when it hosts Cal Lutheran University at 7 p.m. in the Thompson Aquatic Center.