The University of Redlands women's water polo team headed back to Claremont for the second day of the Gary Troyer Memorial Tournament on Saturday. The Bulldogs edged McKendree University (IL) in an exciting comeback, 6-5, before falling to NCAA Division I UC Santa Barbara in a 2-19 decision.
In game one, Redlands struggled to find its offensive rhythm, as the Bearcats jumped out to a 4-1 lead through the first period. First-year attacker Kelly Klish (Glenview, IL) supplied Redlands' only goal off a nice assist from junior center Kolby Kahahawai (Kailua, HI).
The Maroon and Gray held McKendree to only one goal in the second frame while scoring twice to make it a 3-5 game. Sophomore attacker Olivia Allen (Santa Monica, CA) found the back of the net less than two minutes into the second period. Junior attacker Katelyn Jenkins (Bellevue, WA) quickly followed with an unassisted goal just a minute later.
With neither team scoring in the third quarter, Redlands worked to mount a sizeable comeback in the fourth with key adjustments on both ends of the pool. After the scoreless stretched to 11 minutes, first-year attacker Katelynn Holloman (Wildomar, CA) broke the spell with a goal with 5:26 left in regulation. Continuing the Bulldogs' offensive spurt, senior attacker Michelle Na (Mercer Island, WA) put one through the posts not even a minute later to knot the score at five.
After a three-minute stalemate, Jenkins blew one past the McKendree goalkeeper to overtake the lead at 6-5. This score served as the game-winning goal, which was assisted by Holloman.
Junior goalkeeper Kelly Grosswendt (Newbury Park, CA) made 11 huge stops to preserve the close 6-5 win.
Redlands faced a quick turnaround by taking on NCAA Division I competitor UC Santa Barbara in an afternoon contest. The Gauchos put the Maroon and Gray in a quick 12-goal hole through two periods.
Midway through the third period, sophomore attacker Courtney Gray (Yucaipa, CA) found the back of the net off a crafty pass from first-year attack Kayla Takakura (Wailuku, HI). Kahahawai tacked on another score early in the fourth for Redlands' final goal of the tough game that ended in a 2-19 defeat.
Redlands (2-9, 1-0 SCIAC) hops back into Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on Wednesday, March 7, by traveling to Thousand Oaks for a 4 p.m. game against Cal Lutheran University.