LOS ANGELES - Forward Hailie Mace recorded a first-half hat trick to lead No. 7 UCLA to a 4-2 victory over Santa Clara on Thursday night at Drake Stadium.

The Bruins stared down its first deficit of the season after Santa Clara scored the opening goal in the ninth minute but were quick to answer, as Anika Rodriguez netted the equalizer at 16:09 off a perfect through ball by Ashley Sanchez. Mace put UCLA ahead 2-1 at 18:13 with a looping header off a Sanchez free kick and scored her second goal six minutes later, shooting between two defenders at the penalty spot to beat Santa Clara goalkeeper Melissa Lowder. Viviana Villacorta picked up the assist.

The Broncos cut into UCLA's lead in the 37th minute with an unassisted goal by Kelsey Turnbow on a counterattack, but Mace gave UCLA some breathing room in the final 30 minutes of the half, one-timing a cross from Gabrielle Matulich, who was fed on the counterattack by Kaiya McCullough.

After six goals in the first half, the second half was more of a defensive affair, with the Bruins holding the Broncos to just two shots, none of which were on goal.

Mace's hat trick was the 26th all-time by a UCLA player and the first since Darian Jenkins also had a first-half hat trick in the 2016 season opener at San Diego State.

With the victory, UCLA improves to 3-0-0, while Santa Clara falls to 1-2-0. With 14 goals already this season, the Bruins have scored more goals in its first three Division I contests than it has in any other season.

UCLA will next host UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 5:30pm.