ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men’s water polo team was edged out by the University of Redlands Bulldogs with a final score of 10-7 on September 30, 2026, at the Allred Aquatics Center in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) contest.
The match was closely contested through three quarters, with the teams tied 2-2 at halftime and Redlands holding a narrow 5-4 lead entering the fourth period. Redlands pulled away in the final quarter, outscoring Chapman 5-3 to secure the victory.
Sophomore Rylan Takahashi led the Panthers offensively with four goals. Seniors Sammy Hendrickson and Joshua Brown each contributed one goal, while sophomore Isaac Solberg added another in the second half.
In goal, David Yacoub turned in the best performance of his career with 10 total blocks, including two critical stops on five-meter attempts. Both teams showcased vigorous defense, combining for 24 exclusions over the course of the game. Chapman recorded 18 steals, highlighted by career-highs of three steals each from Matthew Cormican, Matthew Arellano and Jack Baker.
Despite tying the game at 5-5 with five minutes remaining, Chapman was unable to contain Redlands’ late surge, which produced four unanswered goals.
The Panthers will pause SCIAC action to participate in the Gary Troyer Tournament on October 2, 2026, in Claremont, California, facing Mount St. Mary’s and Cal State Fullerton.
CSB Take
Chapman University demonstrated strong individual efforts and defensive tenacity in a tightly fought SCIAC matchup. While the Panthers remained competitive through three quarters, the University of Redlands’ decisive late run exposed opportunities for improvement in closing out games. The upcoming Gary Troyer Tournament presents a valuable chance for Chapman to regroup, build momentum and sharpen their play ahead of the remainder of their conference schedule.
Source: Original report
