REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Water Polo team came away with a split Saturday on Day 1 of the Inland Empire Classic. The Bulldogs handled Fresno Pacific 22-7 before getting edged 10-9 by Air Force.
With the split the Maroon and Grey move to 2-4.
Game 1 (Fresno Pacific University; W, 22-7)
It was all Maroon and Grey from the opening whistle outscoring the Sunbirds 10-2 in the first half. Two minutes into the game it was deadlocked at 1-1, but that was short-lived as Redlands would go on a run with eleven of the next twelve goals.
During this run the Bulldogs received goals from Alec Abrahamian (Glendale, CA), Ethan Beaty (Denver, CO), Jake Rose (San Diego, CA) (2), Drake Moody (Camarillo, CA) (2), Ron Gvishi (Kiryat Tivon, Israel) (4), Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA), and Andrew Higginson (San Diego, CA).
Fresno Pacific found their offense in the 3rd Quarter, but they had no answer for the high-powered, balanced attack of the Bulldogs who poured in another seven goals led by a pair of tallies from Moody and Eamon Greathouse (Bainbridge Island, WA). This pushed the lead to 17-5 and they didn't look back putting up another five goals in the 4th Quarter thanks to Owen DeCourcy (Alameda, CA), Greathouse, Gvishi, Callum Norman (Johannesburg, South Africa), and Owen Nishimura (Carlsbad, CA).
Redlands took 51 shots on the morning at a .431 clip, while going 4-for-6 on power-plays. Gvishi had a career game with five goals, five assists, ten points, and three steals. Moody put up four goals, and Higginson with another two goals, two assists and three steals.
Brandon Khalil (Bakersfield, CA) got the start in goal, played all 32:00 minutes collecting four saves, an assist and a steal.
Game 2 (Air Force; L, 10-9)
The Bulldog/Falcon match-up was the most anticipated game of the day and it lived up to the hype, coming down to the final possession. Redlands got out in front quickly with Higginson and Beaty finding the back of the net. But Air Force was able to battle back with two of their own that deadlocked the game after the first quarter.
From that point it was back and forth as UR would hold a slight 3-2 advantage in the second period thanks to Moody and Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, CA). The game was tied at 4-4, but as time was running out before the half, Moody was able to convert inside giving the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead.
Out of the break it was all Air Force outscoring Redlands 5-3 and that proved crucial as they took a one-goal lead into the final eight minutes. Spencer Sellwood (Irvine, CA) put UR on top at 6-5 and Rose again made it a one-goal game at the 2:14 mark. But over the final 2:00 minutes AFA was able to score three of the next four to go in front for the second time 9-8.
It was a defensive battle early in the 4th Quarter until Sorensen added the equalizer at the 3:31 mark, capitalizing on a power-play. Two possessions later Air Force would find the eventual game-winner as Larsen McCarroll would connect inside set that propelled the Falcons to the sweep on the day.
Khalil again played all 32:00 minutes finishing with seven saves and a steal. Moody, Rose, Sorensen all finished with goals.
Redlands returns to the Thompson Aquatic Center tomorrow, Sunday, September 11 for Day 2 action of the Inland Empire Classic. For their two games they will take on Concordia (CA) (10:30am) and California Baptist (5:00pm).
