The University of Redlands women's water polo team participated in the Claremont Convergence in its final day by facing off against the Caltech Beavers and the Concordia University Irvine Eagles on Saturday in Claremont. The Bulldogs played a solid two games by defeating the Beavers, 15-4, and taking down the Eagles, 18-11.
In the first game, the Bulldogs hopped into the pool with the Beavers and wasted no time laying on the offense. Sophomore attack player Rachel Haney (Redmond, OR) kicked off the scoring with a goal, which was backed by two-consecutive goals from senior utility player Taylor Christie (Anaheim, CA). Freshman attack player Sami Walker (Taylorsville, UT) capped off the first-quarter scoring with a goal to hand Redlands a 4-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs matched their first-quarter outburst in the second quarter, beginning with a goal from sophomore utility Stefanie Goldbach (Huntington Beach, CA). Senior utility player Caitlyn Freeman (Brentwood, CA) lit up the pool for three-consecutive scores to give the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead entering into halftime.
After adding two more goals in the third quarter, compliments of a score each from freshman attacker Erin Tait (Turlock, CA) and sophomore attacker MaryKate Hunter (Redlands, CA), the Maroon and Gray erupted for five goals in the fourth quarter.
Tait added two more scores, followed by netters from sophomore attack player Alea Weber (Haiku, HI), freshman attacker Jordan Greene (Burlingame, CA), and Freeman, en route to a 15-4 rout over Caltech.
In game two, the Bulldogs took their game-one momentum into game two against the Eagles in a powerful way.
The Bulldogs faced an early battle as they fell behind twice during the first part of the contest. Christie remained hot by notching the two opening goals for the Maroon and Gray. Senior attack player Annie Kinney (Newport Beach, CA) and Walker rounded out the scoring for the Bulldogs in the opening quarter to keep things close at 4-5.
The Bulldogs continued to claw their way towards the lead in the second quarter, as freshman utility player Rachel Nelson (San Juan Capistrano, CA) and Christie fired home back-to-back goals to keep the score tied up. Kinney added another goal for Redlands' first lead of the game, followed by scores from freshman utility player Kolby Kahahawai (Kailua, HI) and freshman attack player Sabrina Scoggin (Ashland, OR) to give the Maroon and Gray a 9-8 lead at halftime.
The Bulldogs continued to fire on all cylinders down the stretch on both sides of the pool by tallying nine more goals and halting Concordia to three goals for the remainder of the game.
Christie kicked off the scoring in the third quarter, followed by a netter from Scoggin. Nelson chipped in another score, while junior defender Chum Alvarez-Zakson (Santa Monica, CA) located the back of the net for a goal. Freeman and Haney capped off the fourth quarter with two goals each en route to Redlands' 18-11 victory.
The Bulldogs return to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on Wednesday, March 9, by facing off against the Whittier College Poets on the road at 7 p.m.