REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team celebrated their three seniors Saturday morning before a final 2021 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown with Occidental College. But in the end the Bulldogs were unable to come away with the win as they fell 10-8 at the Thompson Aquatic Center.
The Maroon and Grey finish the 2021 season 5-23, 2-12 SCIAC. Prior to the start of the game Head Coach Ryan Hall recognized his graduates Jason Gates (San Jose, CA), Tor Cole (Malibu, CA), and Bradley Clinton (Cypress, CA).
It was a tough opening quarter for the Bulldogs as they tallied just one connection coming at the 2:01 mark from first-year Austin Galanski (Bakersfield, Calif.) off a feed from junior Drake Moody (Camarillo, Calif.).
Another two goals in the 2nd Quarter from B. Clinton who scored :33 seconds in on a powerplay. and Cole who found the back of the net with :09 seconds to go before the half made it a three-goal deficit.
Galanski connected early in the 3rd Quarter again being setup by Moody, which moved the score to 6-4. Then :36 seconds later Cole added his second of the game and made it a one-goal contest at 6-5 extending the scoring run to three-straight. Later in the period junior Michael Maher (Fremont, Calif.) got himself on the board as he kept it a one-score game.
For the third time on the morning Galanski and Moody would combine for the first score of the quarter this time at the 3:56 mark in the fourth. Despite being within one on multiple trips, and moving the score to 10-8 behind a Moody strike UR was unable to pull off the home win.
Redlands took 32 shots on the day, going 1-for-5 on power plays and shooting .250. Gates played all 32:00 minutes between the posts finishing with six saves and a steal. Tol added a pair of goals and an assist. Galanski completed the hat-trick and Moody totaled a goal and three assists.
