The University of Redlands women's water polo team traveled to Whittier College on Thursday for a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown against the Poets. Despite scoring the opening goal, the Bulldogs struggled to contain Whittier's offense and ultimately suffered a 3-9 loss.
After the teams traded possessions early on, junior attacker Breanna O'Dea (Rowland Heights, CA) connected with senior attacker Michelle Na (Mercer Island, WA), who buried the Bulldogs' opening score.
However, the lead was short-lived, as the Poets fired off six unanswered goals through the early part of the third quarter.
Redlands ended its scoring drought on a five-meter penalty shot by junior attacker Katelyn Jenkins (Bellevue, WA) at the 4:45-mark of the third.
Unfortunately, the Poets bounced back to score three more, as the Bulldogs mustered only one netter by Jenkins before the final whistle.
While facing a total of 32 shots, the Maroon and Gray goalkeepers combined for nine saves, with junior goalkeeper Kelly Grosswendt (Newbury Park, CA) making six stops.
Redlands (4-12, 3-2 SCIAC) hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in a SCIAC match on Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m. The Bulldogs also take on Macalester College (MN) that evening at 5 p.m.