HOME OF BULLDOG MEN'S WATER POLO - 1993, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009 SCIAC Champions

The No. 20 University of Redlands men’s water polo team dropped a 12-15 decision to the No. 14 U.S. Air Force Academy (CO) on Saturday before defeating Chapman University, 12-9, in the seventh-place game of the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships on Sunday in Orange.

Following a heartbreaking 13-14 overtime loss to No. 10 UC San Diego on Friday, the Bulldogs regrouped and set out to finish their season on a high note.

Air Force, which had lost its first-round match-up against Whittier College, overcame an eight-goal outburst by senior center Ryan Floersch (San Jose, CA) to come out victorious.

Redlands led, 10-9, heading into the fourth quarter, but the Falcons netted six in the final stanza to pull away.

Floersch’s eight goals served as the game high while senior central defender John Floersch (San Jose, CA) added a pair of scores. In addition, senior driver Erik Grosshans (Oxnard, CA) and junior center Miran Terzic (Mostar, Bosna i Hercegovina) each found the back of the cage once.

In between the posts for the Bulldogs, senior goalkeeper Teddy Trowbridge (Mercer Island, WA) stopped nine shots.

In Sunday’s contest against the event’s host, Chapman, the Maroon and Gray utilized a three-goal fourth quarter to solidify its seventh-place finish at the WWPA Championships.

Terzic paced the offensive attack with four goals while R. Floersch also contributed a large chunk of the team’s final tally with three. J. Floersch netted two scores while senior driver Brent Dotters (Porterville, CA), Grosshans and senior central defender Ian Starkie (Arroyo Grande, CA) supplied one apiece.

Trowbridge anchored the defense once again, accumulating a game-high 13 saves.

Air Force (18-14) finished the tournament in sixth place while Chapman (12-18) settled for eighth.

Redlands (18-18, 9-1 SCIAC) concludes its season as Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) champions while qualifying for the WWPA Championships for the 13th straight year. Head Coach Tom Whittemore, the winningest coach in program history, now sits just eight victories shy of 400 on his career.