The University of Redlands men's water polo team headed to Cal Lutheran University to open Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play on Wednesday afternoon. Through an even first half, the Bulldog offense exploded for five goals in the third period, to ultimately top the Kingsmen, 8-5.

Redlands struggled to find its offensive rhythm through most of the first period. With only 14 seconds left on the clock, junior attacker Chris Frejlach (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) found the back of the net off a sweet pass from junior attacker Jasen Swan (Glendora, CA) to cut the deficit in half, 1-2.

Swan continued to dominate, scoring Redlands' first goal in the second quarter to even the tally.

As play ensued, momentum started to shift in favor of the Kingsmen, as they scored two straight goals, forcing the Bulldogs to work from behind, 3-5.

As the clock ticked down to the four-minute mark in the third quarter, head coach Tom Whittemore called an effective timeout to reenergize his team. The Maroon and Gray then went on a 5-0 run to close out the third stanza. Senior center defender Carl Matthews (Yorba Linda, CA) recorded the first goal, while senior attacker Spencer Allen (Long Beach, CA) tallied the next two. First-year attacker Drake Moody (Camarillo, CA) ended the outburst of offense by netting a score with just two seconds left on the clock and an 8-5 Redlands lead.

The fourth proved to be all defense as neither team could put one through the posts resulting in an 8-5 Bulldog win to start conference play on a high note.

Redlands (6-5, 1-0 SCIAC) looks to ride this momentum into its next game at Chapman on Saturday, September 28 at 11 a.m.