Five-Point Third Quarter Pushes Bulldogs Past Kingsmen

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.— In a defensive battle, it was the Redlands Bulldogs that came out on top as they used a 5-point third quarter to take down the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen 8-5 Wednesday night. 

The third quarter produced more goals then the other three quarter combined as the Bulldogs turned a 5-3 deficit into an 8-5 lead heading to the fourth quarter. The Kingsmen dropped their second straight SCIAC match and are 0-2 and 1-5 overall. 

In the goal for the Kingsmen was Andre Rivas and he impressed with saves left and right, with the Bulldogs hitting the post at least three times. He made eight clutch saves and added one steal. The Kingsmen defense also kept the Violet and Gold in the game as six players tallied at least a steal. Dillon Goldsmith led the defense with three steals while Stephen Blaauw and George Lundgren each had two. 

Offensively, Ben Brown and Lundgren recorded two goals each and Goldsmith added one more. Adding to the offense, the Kingsmen drew eight ejections in total with Tanner Kaplan having the most with three. 

The Kingsmen got on the board first as Brown lofted a perfect ball over the outstretched arm of the Bulldogs' goalkeeper. Redlands had its chances to tie, however, great defense from CLU, and key saves from Rivas, kept the Kingsmen on top. Brown added his second goal of the game with 2:03 left in the quarter as he fired a laser to the left side of the net. Redlands finally broke through with 14 second left in the quarter as the Kingsmen took a 2-1 lead to the second quarter. 

Redlands tied it up on their first possession of the game as they drew a 5-meter and converted on the shot. CLU came right back and answered on a power play as Lundgren was there for the answer. With 2:32 left in the half, Redlands drew another 5-meter and tied the game at 3. The Kingsmen took the lead back as Lundgren recorded a steal, leading to a breakaway, and put CLU up 4-3 at the half. A key save from Rivas with four seconds left secured the lead. 

The defenses continued to put on a show in the second. Redlands another 5-meter, as Rivas was there for the block. After a rebound was picked up by Redlands, Rivas blocked the shot again. CLU took advantage of the missed opportunities and its increased its lead to 5-3 as Goldsmith found the back of the net. Redlands responded with back-to-back goals a few plays later and the game was all tied up at 5. The Bulldogs added three more goals down the stretch, making it five in the quarter and had an 8-5 lead heading to the fourth. The defense picked back up in the fourth, allowing no goals on either side as the Bulldogs won the game. 

The Kingsmen hit the road for the next contest as Cal Lutheran travels to Whittier with the start time set for 11 a.m.

Box Score: UR 8, CLU 5
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director