CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Water Polo team jumpstarted the Claremont Convergence Friday afternoon with a split against Pomona-Pitzer and Carthage.
They started their day off with a 14-6 loss to the Sagehens, but bounced back in the evening session beating Carthage 21-1 for their first win of 2022.
Game 1 (Pomona-Pitzer; L, 14-6)
For the second time this season the Bulldogs have matched up with the Sagehens and are now 0-2 against Pomona-Pitzer. UR was held to just one goal in the first half coming from Emma Parker (Yucaipa, CA) as they trailed 8-1.
Out of the break the Maroon and Grey showed their offense outscoring the Sagehens 4-3 as they mounted a late comeback. PP put up three of the first four goals of the 3rd Quarter, but saw UR go on their own run with three straight across the final 2:27 to get within six. During the run Holly Kvanvig (Beaverton, OR), Sydney Sereg (Fullerton, CA), and Hannah Long (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) would all find the back of the net.
Katrina Nielsen (Houston, TX) kept the run going for the Bulldogs to start the 4th Quarter with an even goal that made it a five-goal deficit, but that's as close as UR would get as PP would add the final three connections to end the game.
Long finished with two goals and a drawn exclusion, Parker had a goal, an assist, and a game high five steals, and Breanna Bailey (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) helped with a pair of assists, and a steal.
Redlands took 17 shots for the game (.353) and was 2-for-4 on power plays.
Tori Zielinski (Sunnyvale, CA) played all 32:00 minutes between the posts and totaled six saves and a steal.
Game 2 (Carthage; 21-1)
In the nightcap the Bulldogs offense was clicking on all cylinders taking 31 shots with an impressive 67% shooting percentage. Eleven different players found the back of the net led by Kvanvig who posted five goals and a steal. Long added three goals and Parker, Bailey, Sofia Portello (Sonoma, CA), and Christine Chua (Arcadia, CA) each recorded two apiece. Another nice stat line came from Emily Feliciano (Tacoma, WA) who finished with a goal and two assists, while Portello added an assist, a drawn exclusion and a steal with her two tallies.
Redlands shutout the Firebirds in the opening quarter 4-0 and then tacked on another five in the second to take a 9-1 lead into the break. Then in the second half UR blanked Carthage 12-0 with six goals coming in each of the final two frames.
Zielinski was stellar between the posts collecting five saves in the win along with an .833 save percentage.
Redlands returns to the pool tomorrow, Saturday, March 5 for Day 2 action at the Claremont Convergence. They will have another two games against Augustana (10:15am) and Macalester (3:15pm), both being held at Las Flores Pool (University of La Verne).