Redlands Women’s Water Polo Slips to Whittier on Senior Day

Redlands celebrated its seniors prior to the start of the game.
Photo credit: Nick Burchet

The University of Redlands women's water polo team hosted a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) match-up against the Whittier College Poets at the Thompson Aquatic Center on a cool Wednesday evening. Although the Bulldogs kept things tight through the end of the third period, a strong fourth quarter by the visitors left Redlands on the wrong side of a 6-13 decision.

Before the first sprint, Redlands honored the careers of senior attacker Michelle Na (Mercer Island, WA) and senior defender Stefanie Goldbach (Huntington Beach, CA).

The Maroon and Gray jumped on the board first with a goal on its opening possession from junior attacker Katelyn Jenkins (Bellevue, WA). First-year attacker Olivia Allen (Santa Monica, CA) dished out the quick assist on the opening score.

However, Whittier subsequently went on a 3-0 run to close out the first period.

Although the Poets opened the next frame with a goal, Jenkins put one through the posts on a power play at the 6:38-minute mark. The teams battled their way through the second by trading scores, with each notching two more in the period. Junior attacker Sami Walker (Taylorsville, UT) and Na each provided a goal for the Bulldogs, while first-year defender Sarah Draves (Fallbrook, CA) dished out two assists in the period.

Jenkins completed the hat trick to open the third frame with a rocketing, five-meter goal to pull her team within one at 5-6. After the Poets scored, the Maroon and Gray took advantage of another power play, this time first-year attacker Katelynn Holloman (Wildomar, CA) found the back of the net off a nice pass from Draves to make the score 6-7 at the 4:47-minute mark of the third.

Unfortunately, this was all the scoring Redlands would muster, as Whittier turned up its play with mid-pool steals and breakaway scoring that left the Bulldogs in a 6-13 hole at the end of the game.

Jenkins posted a team-best three goals and won two sprints, while Goldbach led the team with two steals.

Redlands (7-20, 5-7 SCIAC) takes to the road for its next two matches, beginning at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Saturday, April 14, for an 11 a.m. start. The Bulldogs then head to Chapman University on Wednesday, April 18, to close out the regular season with a 7 p.m. game against the Panthers.