Courtesy: Redlands Athletics
REDLANDS, Calif. – It was an action packed day during Day 1 of the Inland Empire Classic. The University of Redlands Men’s Water Polo team nearly pulled off an upset of Air Force Academy falling 13-12 in OT. A few hours later Ryan Hall collected his first win as Head Coach of the Bulldogs.
At the end of the day UR finished 1-2 and drop now to 1-4 on the season.
Game 1 (Air Force – L, 13-12 OT)
It was back and forth in the first game of the classic as the Bulldogs and Falcons would match each other goal for goal. UR played from behind across the first eight minutes, but were able to capitalize on a 5-meter from Michael Driscoll (Escondido, CA) that deadlocked the game at 5-5.
AF would go back on top on their opening possession in the 2nd Quarter, but that lead wouldn’t hold as Ron Gvishi (Albany, CA) would connect soon after. The Bulldogs had an opportunity midway through the period to go on top from Tor Cole (Malibu, CA) but his shot would hit the post keeping the game deadlocked. At the 2:45 mark Drake Moody (Camarillo, CA) would continue his dominance denting the twine to move the score to 7-7. Then trailing by two with :18 seconds to go in the quarter, UR would answer with Spencer Clinton (Cypress, CA) connecting off a feed from Cole that made a one-point game at the half.
The second half proved to be a defensive stand with just five goals being scored in regulation. UR was able to hold the 2-1 advantage in the 3rd Quarter thanks to goals from Cole and Max Wagener (Piedmont, CA) pushing the game back into a tie at 10-10. In the 4th, both teams would add a tally, but it would come down to the final possession for the Falcons who had a look for the game-winner. Grant Synder would get inside set before getting a shot off as time expired but the final attempt would be denied by Liam Murphy (Placentia, CA) that forced OT.
In the first extra period Air Force took control at the 1:02 mark, but again saw UR respond with the equalizer this time from Wagener with :35 seconds to play. Redlands had an opportunity to take the lead in the second OT stanza as Andrew Sorensen (Long Beach, CA) would get off a look that had the goalie beat, but he would come up empty as his shot would hit off the post. Then at the 1:26 mark the Falcons had the look they wanted, connecting on the eventual game-winner as Sam Fuller would find the back of the net. Redlands had one final opportunity to tie things up earning a 6-on-5 advantage with under a minute to play. But the ensuing possession would come up empty as they would turn the ball over allowing AF to hold on for the win.
Redlands earned 12 goals on 28 shots and finished with a .429 shot percentage. They were just 1-for-7 on power plays and just 1-for-4 on penalty shots. Murphy between the posts had the game of his career finishing with 17 saves, a pair of steals and a .567 save percentage.
Game 2 (Fresno Pacific – W, 17-13)
The Bulldogs picked up their first win of 2021 in their second match-up on the day holding off Fresno Pacific 17-13 to give Head Coach Ryan Hall his first Redlands win. Seven goals were scored in the opening period with UR holding a 4-3 advantage. The difference came in the second period as the Maroon and Grey would outscore the Sunbirds 6-2 behind goals from Michael Maher (Fremont, CA), Gvishi, and Moody giving UR a 10-5 lead at the break.
Out of intermission Fresno Pacific came out and made a dent into the score outscoring Redlands 4-3 to get within four. But that’s as close as they would get as UR would be able to stay even with Sunbirds across the final eight minutes that gave them the home victory.
UR would get 17 goals on 39 shots for a .436 shot percentage and were 0-for-6 on power plays. Brandon Khalil (Bakersfield, CA) got the start in goal finishing with five saves and four steals. Moody produced five goals, while Cole added four, an assist and two steals. S. Clinton also had a strong game with deuces wild, two goals, two assists and two steals.
Game 3 (UC Santa Barbara – L, 28-8)
It was a tough match-up for the Maroon and Grey in the final game of the day taking on a Top 5 Division I team in UCSB. They gave up 10 goals in the first quarter before surrendering six in each frame after that. They did however pick up three goals in the 2nd and 3rd, before finishing with another two over the final eight minutes.
Cole led the offense with a hat trick and was joined by Dan Bajda (Lombard, Ill.), Owen Nishimura (Carlsbad, CA), Wagener, Tanner Whitson (St. Louis, MO), and Jack Ryan (Ventura, CA).
The Bulldogs wrap up the Classic on Sunday, September 12 taking on Long Beach State (10:15am), Ottawa (AZ) (1:30pm) and Riverside City College (4:00pm).