RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Water Polo team opened up 2022 Saturday at the CBU Lancer Joust Invite taking on a pair of Division II institutions in Fresno Pacific and Biola University.
Game 1 (Fresno Pacific – L, 20-6)
In the first match-up the Bulldogs took on a tough Sunbirds squad and were able to put up three goals across the opening eight minutes but struggled after that offensively being held to just three goals over the final three quarters.
Junior Breanna Bailey (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) tied the game up :46 seconds into the first period taking advantage of a power-play opportunity. First-year Emma Parker (Yucaipa, CA) then got into the mix with 3:42 left with her first career goal, which ended a 3-0 FPU run. Junior Hannah Long (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) was the third Bulldog to find the back of the net in the first period as she kept the Bulldogs close, 5-3.
It was a tough second period for the Bulldog offense as it took them over five minutes to get on the scoreboard as sophomore Kaitlynn Pierceall (Beaumont, CA) scored the only goal of the frame getting UR within five at 9-4.
Only two goals were scored in the second half for the Maroon and Grey both coming in the third quarter. The first coming from Long who connected for her second of the game, followed by 2021 leading goal scorer, senior Holly Kvanvig (Beaverton, OR) who added a late tally.
First-year Sydney Sereg (Fullerton, CA) started in goal for Redlands making her college debut and played the full 32:00 minutes finishing with 12 saves and a steal.
Game 2 (Biola University – L, 18-3)
The second game on the day the Bulldogs matched up with Biola University, who is in their inaugural season. After conceding the first three goals of the game, junior Danielle Cary (Riverside, CA) scored in her hometown to open up the scoring for the U of R at the 4:58 mark. Kvanvig then answered two minutes later with her first of the game that kept the Bulldogs within striking distance.
The Bulldogs were blanked in the second quarter as they saw the Eagles put up another seven tallies taking a 13-2 lead into the break. Parker jumpstarted the offense for the Bulldogs in the second half :40 seconds in. But unfortunately for the Maroon and Grey, that would be their final goal of the game as they lost 18-3, dropping to 0-2 to start their season.
Sereg again played all 32:00 minutes between the posts totaling five saves.
On the day, Kvanvig, Parker, and Long combined for six of the Bulldogs nine goals. Sereg started and played all 64 minutes totaling 17 saves and a steal to begin her career.
Redlands returns to the pool on Saturday, February 19 when they host their annual Bulldog Invite. They will play two games, which will include a SCIAC match-up with Pomona-Pitzer (11:00am) followed by an afternoon showdown with Cal Baptist University (3:30pm).
