The stars aligned for the University of Redlands men’s water polo team in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship Tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon in Claremont as the Bulldogs picked up a 13-9 victory over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges before the No. 1 seed, Whittier College, lost to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, 6-5.

With the Redlands victory and the Whittier loss, the Maroon and Gray has clinched at least a share of the conference title. If the Poets lose in the third-place game against Pomona-Pitzer Colleges tomorrow afternoon or if the Bulldogs win in the championship bout versus Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Redlands will hold the title outright. However, if the Bulldogs lose and Poets win, Whittier and Redlands will share the championship.

In addition, the Bulldogs have clinched one of the SCIAC’s two automatic bids for the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships, which occurs from Nov. 20-22 at Chapman University.

While the score at the end appeared close, the Maroon and Gray maintained the momentum throughout the contest and thwarted the Sagehens’ offensive chances.

Senior central defender John Floersch (San Jose, CA) led the way with four goals while junior center Miran Terzic (Mostar, Bosna i Hercegovina) netted three on the afternoon. Senior driver Erik Grosshans (Oxnard, CA) rattled off two scores while senior driver Clint Stevenson (South Jordan, UT), senior central defender Ian Starkie (Arroyo Grande, CA), junior driver Bo Sidhu (Indio, CA) and junior center Blake vanHartesvelt (Mercer Island, WA) provided one goal apiece.

The stellar play from senior goalkeeper Teddy Trowbridge (Mercer Island, WA), whose 11 saves served as the game-high, kept the team motivated and ultimately proved to be difference.

Yesterday, the Maroon and Gray dismantled the University of La Verne, 13-7, in the opening round of the tournament.

The Bulldogs last won a SCIAC title in 2006 when they posted a perfect 10-0 record in conference play. This marks the program’s eighth conference championship, all of which have come under the direction of Head Coach Tom Whittemore.

Pomona-Pitzer (15-16, 6-3 SCIAC) faces Whittier tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. to determine the event’s third-place team.

Redlands (16-16, 8-1 SCIAC) meets up with host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps tomorrow afternoon in the championship tilt with hopes of winning the crown outright. In their initial meeting on Nov. 13 at the Thompson Aquatic Center, the Bulldogs triumphed, 9-6. Game time is set for 2:15 p.m. at Axelrod Pool on the campus of Claremont McKenna College.