Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

REDLANDS, Calif. – The Whittier College men's soccer team saw its 16-game regular season conference unbeaten streak come to an end as the Bulldogs handed the Poets their first conference loss of the season, 3-0, on Wednesday evening.

Despite the loss, Whittier (6-3-1, 4-1-1 SCIAC) remains in second place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Redlands (6-1-2, 5-0-2 SCIAC) took the pressure off themselves early with a goal just 2:53 into the start of the game. The unassisted strike came from Gilbert Flores who capped a long run with a goal to the far corner.

Whittier put its first shot on frame in the 23rd minute but Andreas Silva turned aside the attempt. That proved to be the only shot on target for Adolfo Santos who got off a team and game-high four shots.

Rhye Kanassatega tried for the equalizer in the 34th minute but Silva was there again to record his second save of the half.

The Redlands keeper finished the evening with six saves.

Neither team got off a shot in the final 12 minutes of the first frame.

The second half opened with a quick opportunity from the purple and gold. Jon Elvins put a shot on goal from the close right wing just six seconds into the half but Silva was there for the save. Whittier got off three of the next four shots but the fifth turned into the second goal of the game for Redlands.

Jamie Griffin finished a back and forth from Cody Carlson and Gabe Ramirez with a header at 57:23 to put the Bulldogs ahead, 2-0.

Griffin was at it again as he finished a feed from Ramirez for the third and final goal of the game in the 80th minute.

The Poets got off two shots-on-goal in the final 10 minutes but Silva was there to make the save on both attempts.

Elvins finished with two shots, both on target, while Srdan Jovanovic and Jay Armenta each added a shot-on-goal.

David Diaz made four saves in 90 minutes of action in goal.

The Poets will look to get back on track on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Claremont, Calif., to face Pomona-Pitzer at 11 am.