Photo by: Tony leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Whittier College women's water polo team opened up SCIAC play with a 13-4 loss to the Bulldogs of the University of Redlands Saturday afternoon at the Thompson Aquatic Center.

Whittier now drops to 10-11, 0-1 SCIAC, while Redlands now improves to 12-12, 1-0 SCIAC.

The Bulldogs opened up the game scoring seven unanswered holding the Poets scoreless in the first quarter.  Whittier stopped the bleeding when freshman Samantha Pudwill and junior Kirsten Davis connected on back to back goals that pulled the Poets within seven heading into the half.

Coming out of the break the game turned into a defensive battle with both teams having a difficult time finding the back of the goal.  Redlands scored three times in the third and continued to hold Whittier on the offense only allowing one goal from Pudwill. 

In the final frame Whittier held the Bulldogs to one goal but still only managed getting one goal themselves as Davis again connected for her second goal of the game.  But it wasn't enough as the Bulldogs cruised to the 13-4 win.

The Purple & Gold continue with SCIAC play as they welcome in Occidental College on Wednesday, April 4 beginning at 5pm before traveling out to take on the Leopards of the University of La Verne on Saturday, April 7 beginning at 11am followed by a home game that same day against Vanguard at 5pm.