WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Water Polo team (4-14, 3-3) stunned Whittier College 7-5 on the road Wednesday evening for their first win over the Poets since 2013 and their first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) win against the Purple & Gold since 2012.
The Bulldogs trailed 2-1 after the first eight minutes as they were held scoreless for the final 7:41 after Emma Parker (Yucaipa, CA) scored the game's opening goal.
Redlands and Whittier exchanged goals in the first minute and a half of the second quarter as they trailed 3-2. The second goal came courtesy of Hannah Long (Rancho Cucamonga, CA).
After allowing the Poets to retake the lead at the 6:40 mark, the Bulldog defense stepped up and pitched a shutout the remainder of the half as Courtney Sawin (Tacoma, WA) and Katrina Nielsen (Houston, TX) each scored. Long added an assist on Nielsen's goal as the Bulldogs held a 4-3 halftime lead.
The Poets struck first in the third, ending their scoring drought at 11 minutes and 25 seconds as the game was tied for the fourth time. Less than two minutes later Sawin converted on a five-meter penalty. Then a minute later Long scored her second of the contest as she took advantage of a powerplay to put away what would be the game-winning goal with :43 seconds left in the third.
After another extended scoring drought from Whittier, they got within one, 6-5, with 2:35 on the clock. But a Parker goal just :23 seconds later helped seal the 7-5 road win.
The Bulldogs shot a very efficient .467. Their defense returned to form, holding the Poets to a .200 shooting percentage thanks to 12 Tori Zielinski (Sunnyvale, CA) saves on a total of 25 shots faced. With a player down they also shined, holding the Poets to an 0-for-9 mark.
Long, Sawin, and Parker each scored a brace with Long and Anika Lundbaek (San Anselmo, CA) each assisting on goals. Danielle Cary (Riverside, CA) and Zielinski led the defensive unit with two steals each.
Redlands stays on the road this weekend with a trip to Occidental College on Saturday, April 1 beginning at 11:00 a.m.