REDLANDS, Calif. - No. 3 Cal Lutheran dropped its conference opener 9-7 to No. 2 Redlands on Saturday morning. The Kingsmen responded with a 16-9 victory over Gannon to close out the Saturday doubleheader at the Thompson Aquatics Center.

Redlands 9, Cal Lutheran 7 - F
The host Bulldogs defense clamped down on the Kingsmen holding the visiting side to only one goal through the first 22 minutes of play. The CLU season scoring leader leader Brandon Gross received a game misconduct foul taking him out of the game with 5:26 remaining in the second quarter.

A couple of late third quarter scores by Jordan Meaney and Carter Baldwin pulled Cal Lutheran to within three. However a last second goal by UR's Danny Boessenecker pushed the margin to 7-3 heading into the fourth quarter.

Cal Lutheran pulled to within two goals with just over two minutes remaining in regulation but could not close the gap as time ran out.

Dejan Novakovic led Cal Lutheran with two goals and goalkeeper Danny Mock stopped eight shots in the loss.

Cal Lutheran 16, Gannon 9 - F
After being forced to watch from the bench for most of Saturday's opener Brandon Gross made up for lost time scoring seven of the team's 16 goals. He was one of five Kingsmen to score multiple times including Alex Hacker with three goals of his own. Meaney, Novakovic and Graham Jameson Jr. each scored a pair in the victory.

Leading 8-6 early in the second half the Cal Lutheran offense scored six third quarter goals and cruised to victory. Mock made 10 saves in the win and held Gannon to only one fourth quarter score.

Cal Lutheran will return to conference play on the road when facing Caltech on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 4 p.m.