REDLANDS, Calif. – After trailing by three goals midway through the game, the University of Redlands men's water polo used an explosive fourth period to push past the visiting Poets of Whittier College by a score of 13-11 in an exciting Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic (SCIAC) match on Wednesday night at the Thompson Aquatic Center.
With the result, the Bulldogs improve to 12-10 overall and 4-3 in SCIAC, while the Poets slip to 10-15, 2-5.
After the game began in back-and-forth fashion, Redlands gained a slim 4-2 advantage when Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, CA) scored off of Ron Gvishi's (Kiryat Tivon, Israel) assist with 48 seconds to go in the opening period.
However, Whittier quickly answered back to tally two goals and make it 4-all. The teams continued to trade scores early in the second, with Spencer Sellwood (Irvine, CA) and Gvishi providing goals for the Maroon and Grey.
The Poets created some momentum late in the second period, as Harrison Eaton found the back of the net on two occasions for Whittier's 8-6 lead. Late in the frame, Redlands had its chances, unleashing back-to-back shots, but the Poet goalkeeper Pierre-Louis Pinchaud managed to make the necessary stops.
Early in the third stanza, Whittier took advantage of a 6-on-5 opportunity to earn its biggest lead of the night at 9-6.
Nonetheless, Redlands refused to go away. Following a field block, Andrew Higginson (San Diego, CA) cut the Bulldogs' deficit to two with a goal at the 4:34-mark of the period. The Bulldogs worked to change the momentum with huge defensive plays, as Brandon Khalil (Bakersfield, CA) turned back a shot, Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA) snagged a steal, and Spencer Clinton (Cypress, CA) came up with another field block.
Down by two at the start of the fourth period, Redlands came out with a newfound energy that began with Drake Moody's (Camarillo, CA) steal and Higginson's breakaway. As Higginson sprinted toward the goal, Whittier was forced to foul but did so inside the five-meter mark, which resulted in a penalty shot. Sellwood successfully converted it and energized the crowd and his team. Another Moody takeaway on the ensuing Poet possession led to Gvishi's goal to tie it up at nine apiece with 5:52 left on the clock.
From here, the Bulldogs' defensive effort kept Whittier out of rhythm, forcing multiple offensive fouls and exclusions late in the game. Offensively, Gvishi found an open Higginson, who tossed it in for a 10-9 lead, before Moody fired one in the back of the net on a 6-on-5 play with 4:51 remaining.
Although the Poets pulled one back, Alec Abrahamian (Glendale, CA) and Gvishi answered for Redlands to extend the home team's lead to 13-10. Gvishi's goal came off of his own steal on Whittier's previous possession.
Despite the Poets' late score from Ricardo Reyes Jr., the Bulldogs managed the clock well to end the game with a hard-fought 13-11 victory. Reyes finished with four goals and one assist for Whittier.
Givishi provided three goals, two assists, and two steals for the Maroon and Grey. Higginson added three scores, while Moody finished with four steals and a goal.
Redlands heads to Occidental College on Saturday, October 29, for an 11 a.m. showdown with the Tigers.