COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Redlands Men's Water polo team played their final two games at the Air Force Academy Rare Air Challenge Sunday and picked up a pair of wins against Iona University (14-13) and Westcliff University (8-6).
Game 1 (Iona University; W, 14-13)
The Bulldogs scored first thanks to an Andrew Higginson (San Diego, CA) goal only :35 seconds into the game. After a pair of Gael goals Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA) evened the contest at two with 1:14 left in the quarter.
In the second period the Bulldogs took a 5-4 lead following a 3-1 run that included goals from Ron Gvishi (Kiryat Tivon, Israel) and Spencer Sellwood (Irvine, CA).
After conceding two goals to open the second half, Higginson and Sellwood scored about a minute apart to tie the game at seven. The Bulldogs again fell behind by two goals late in the third, but another Higginson goal, and the first score from Ethan Beaty (Denver, CO), both in the final :55 seconds, had the game tied at ten heading to the final eight minutes.
After allowing back-to-back goals for the second time, the Bulldogs scored four of the final five goals, including the game-winner from Sellwood, that came with three seconds remaining.
It was a very even game with the Bulldogs holding a five shot advantage (33-28) and converting on two power-play goals. Higginson and Sellwood combined for nine goals, five and four respectively, with six total players finding the back of the net. Liam Murphy (Placentia, CA) got another start and recorded nine saves.
Game 2 (Westcliff University; W, 8-6)
Redlands started quickly in the second game of the day jumping out in front 3-1 within the first six minutes with goals coming from Gvishi, Drake Moody (Camarillo, CA), and Eamon Greathouse (Bainbridge Island, WA).
At the 1:19 mark of the second quarter the Bulldogs had their largest lead of the game at three, 6-3, after Sellwood scored off an Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, CA) assist.
Both teams were scoreless in the third quarter and Westcliff's goal at the 6:58 mark of the fourth was the first time the Bulldogs had conceded anything in more than 16:00 minutes. The Warriors made it a one-goal game :45 seconds later, but that's as close as they would get.
Off a power-play with 4:40 remaining in the game, Moody scored the eventual game-winning goal. Higginson added some insurance off a penalty with :37 seconds left. Brandon Khalil (Bakersfield, CA) started and played the full 32:00 minutes and made four more saves than goals conceded (10-6) as he posted a .625 save percentage.
Despite the low scoring, there was not a lack of attempts as the two sides combined for 80 shots (46-34). Moody scored a hat trick, Higginson added two more goals that brought him to seven on the day.
The Bulldogs leave Colorado with a 5-6 overall record looking towards the start of SCIAC play, which begins this weekend, Saturday, September 24, with a road test against Chapman University at 11:00 a.m.