Bulldog Women's Water Polo fails to hold second half lead in a 9-6 loss to Athenas

Image Credit: Lily Robertson-Mindell
Image Credit: Lily Robertson-Mindell

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Water Polo team (6-15, 5-4 SCIAC) lost a tight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game at second place Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Saturday morning as they were unable to a hold a 6-5 second half advantage in a 9-6 loss.

The Bulldogs' offense was quiet to start the morning, just as was the case on Wednesday at home, as they did not score until there was 1:10 left in the first quarter as Kaitlynn Pierceall (Beaumont, CA) made it a two-goal deficit, 3-1.

Redlands held the Athenas scoreless through the middle part of the second as Pierceall again found the back of the net at the 4:18 mark, bringing UR within one, 3-2.

Following a pair of CMS goals in the final three minutes of the half, Emma Parker (Yucaipa, CA) scored as time expired putting the Bulldogs back within striking distance, 5-3.

Redlands dominated the third quarter, scoring the first three goals and taking their first lead of the game, 6-5, with 1:48 remaining in the quarter. Breanna Bailey (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) and Parker both converted during the run.  

An Athena goal with :31 seconds on the clock tied the game at six as the two sides went into the final eight minutes deadlocked.

CMS catrried the momentum from the end of the third into the fourth scoring less than two minutes in as they would go in front for good. Two more CMS goals put the game away as the Bulldogs' winning streak came to an end.

Bailey, Pierceall, and Parker each scored twice, and Tori Zielinski (Sunnyvale, CA) made 10 saves on 19 shots on target.

The Bulldogs will host Occidental College on Monday, April 10 beginning at 7:00 p.m. inside the Thompson Aquatic Center as they head into their final three SCIAC games of the season, all at home.