Slow Start Hampers U of R Men's Water Polo's Late-Game Effort in 6-11 Loss to CLU

Photo credit: Rachel Roche
Photo credit: Rachel Roche

The University of Redlands men's water polo team took on the Kingsmen of Cal Lutheran University on Saturday in Thousand Oaks but fell short in a 6-11 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) match.  Despite a back-and-forth second half, the Bulldogs' early deficit proved too much for them to overcome.

Sophomore attacker Reed Caron (Sacramento, CA) scored the Bulldogs' first goal at the 5:08 mark of the second period to make it 1-3.  But the Kingsmen put together a productive end of the frame to charge out to a 6-1 lead.

Nonetheless, Redlands refused to go away and battled CLU in the second half.  Senior attacker Chris Frejlach (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) put one in the back of the net off an assist from junior attacker Tor Cole (Malibu, CA) with 6:39 to go in the third.  Over the next few minutes, the teams traded tallies, as first-year attacker Curren McCarthy (San Clemente, CA) converted a pass from first-year attacker Brett Peoples (Long Beach, CA).  In addition, Caron delivered a sweet pass to Frejlach, who fired one past the CLU goalkeeper to make it 4-9. 

With 3:38 remaining in the game, Cole drew an exclusion, which set up McCarthy's five-on-six goal off a pass from sophomore attacker Nathaniel Rucker-Jensen (Agoura, CA).  Caron scored on the last play of the game, but the Bulldogs fell short of the comeback.

Sophomore goalkeeper Liam Murphy (Placentia, CA) and junior goalkeeper Jason Gates (San Jose, CA) shared time between the posts, as Murphy made seven saves and Gates added two.  Cole added a trio of steals.

Redlands concludes its modified spring season and looks forward to earning Head Coach Ryan Hall's first win later this fall.