The University of Redlands men's water polo team competed at home for the first time in 2015, earning split results during the opening day of the Inland Empire Classic at the Thompson Aquatic Center.  The Bulldogs jumped into the water early Saturday morning but fell to UC Irvine by a score of 14-3.  Later in the afternoon, the Maroon and Gray finished out the day with a hard-fought win over Chapman University, pushing past the Panthers in an 8-7 decision.

Against Chapman, Redlands trailed by as many as three goals but battled back each time to tie it up.  While facing a two-goal deficit to start the fourth frame, the Bulldogs came out firing to put together their biggest offensive output of the day with four goals.  Sophomore center-defender Danny Hartwig (Vista, CA) initiated the Maroon and Gray's final comeback, before sophomore driver Kevin Chapa (Carlsbad, CA) tied it up for the last time.  Junior driver Zac Polmanteer (Long Beach, CA) gave Redlands its first lead of the game when he buried the ball into the back of the net with 5:53 remaining in the game.  Junior center-defender Mark Zikov (La Quinta, CA) capped off the scoring spree for the Bulldogs with his second netter of the game, which came with just over a minute remaining. 

Although Chapman managed to pull one back in the waning seconds, Redlands maintained its advantage for the 8-7 victory.

Junior goalkeeper Chris Sekula (LaGrange, IL) patrolled the Bulldog cage, making six stops, including two in the crucial fourth frame.

During the day's opener, the Bulldogs struggled to get anything going against the Anteaters, who garnered a four-goal lead to start.  Redlands' only goals came in the second frame, as Hartwig and freshman driver Ty Williams (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) each found the back of the net.

Redlands (2-4) returns to action on Sunday, September 13, when it hosts UCLA at 10:20 a.m. and then takes on Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in a 1:20 p.m. showdown.