The University of Redlands women's water polo team welcomed Pomona-Pitzer Colleges to the Thompson Aquatic Center for its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) home opener on Saturday morning. After a close first half, the Sagehens managed to pull ahead in the second, handing the Bulldogs a 9-14 loss.
Although the Sagehens struck first, the Bulldogs quickly overtook the lead with two goals less than a minute apart. Sophomore attacker Ally Feeley (Menlo Park, CA) started off the scoring with a powerplay goal at 4:54. Sophomore attacker Holly Kvanvig (Beaverton, OR) then drew an exclusion and subsequently found the back of the net for another power-play goal at 4:03 for a 2-1 advantage.
Two minutes later, Feeley swiped a steal and pushed it to first-year goalkeeper Erin Ross (Newport Beach, CA). Ross then spotted sophomore attacker Nicolette Ramirez (Whittier, CA) for a whole-pool pass and goal for a 3-2 lead. However, Pomona-Pitzer put one through the posts as well to head to the second quarter knotted at 3-3.
The teams continued to trade blows through the first three minutes of the second with Kvanvig and senior attacker Hunter Olivier (Indio, CA) owning both of Redlands' goals for a 5-5 score with 5:36 left.
Stealthy defense from both sides saw only one more goal through the rest of the period with Pomona-Pitzer holding a slight 6-5 lead at halftime.
Momentum began to shift in favor of the Sagehens in the first five minutes of the third, putting the Bulldogs in a 5-9 hole with 3:53 left.
Nonetheless, junior attacker Katelynn Holloman (Wildomar, CA) remained steadfast with a goal at 3:18 and on Redlands' very next possession, Holloman found first-year attacker Katrina Nielsen (Houston, TX) for the score to close the gap to 7-9 to close out the third.
Unfortunately, the Sagehens created more space in the fourth, eventually handing Redlands a 9-14 loss.
Olivier impressed on both sides of the pool with three defensive blocks, two drawn exclusions, two goals, and a steal.
Redlands (3-4, 1-1 SCIAC) looks to jump back into the win column on Wednesday, March 4, for a conference game against the University of La Verne.
