UCLA
CSU Bakersfield
Bruins to Host Roadrunners in MPSF Home Opener
March 10, 2017 | Women's Water Polo
No. 3 UCLA hosts No. 23 CSU Bakersfield in the Bruins' MPSF home opener Saturday. Play between the Bruins (12-1, 1-0) and Roadrunners (9-9, 0-2) at Spieker Aquatics Center will begin at 1:00 p.m.
The Series -- The Bruins hold a 7-0 all-time record against the Roadrunners. The teams most recently met April 29, 2016, when UCLA claimed a 10-3 victory in the MPSF Championships quarterfinal round.
Coming Up -- The No. 4 California Golden Bears visit Spieker Aquatics Center on Saturday, March 18, for an MPSF matchup. Play will begin at 11:30 a.m. and be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
Musselman Earns Third Newcomer Honor -- Freshman Maddie Musselman was named the MPSF Newcomer of the Week Tuesday (March 7) as announced by the league. Musselman posted her sixth hat trick of the season and four total goals (on just five shots) in the Bruins' 24-2, MPSF-opening win on March 4 at No. 10 San Jose State. She also recorded one assist and an earned exclusion on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, Musselman totaled a team-best three steals to key the Bruin pressure that held the Spartans scoreless through three quarters and surrendered zero goals in seven six-on-five chances for the home team. The freshman also won two sprints. This was Musselman's third Newcomer of the Week award and third career MPSF honor. On the year, the attacker has totaled team highs of 32 goals and 29 steals and recorded 13 assists, 13 earned exclusions and 18 sprints won, as well.
Bruins Still Third in Week 8 Poll -- The Bruins once again checked in at No. 3 in the Week 8 CWPA poll. Just two of the top five ranked teams were in action leading up to the release of the rankings, as UCLA defeated San Jose State, 24-2, while No. 1 USC posted a 14-3 win at CSU Bakersfield. UCLA is also third in the MPSF preseason coaches poll, where they totaled one first-place vote and 28 points overall. Also receiving first-place votes were No. 1 Stanford (four), No. 2 USC (one) and No. 4 California (one). This marks the first time ever that four teams have earned at least one first-place vote in the MPSF preseason coaches poll. The MPSF has been the dominant conference in NCAA women's water polo, winning all 21 national championships since its inaugural season in 1996.
Halligan's Hot Streak -- Heading into play on Feb. 24, Bronte Halligan had recorded four goals (on 10 attempts), seven assists, seven steals and zero earned exclusions over the team's first eight contests. During the four-game Kalbus Invitational in Irvine, the freshman accumulated eight goals, six assists, eight steals and four earned exclusions. Then, at San Jose State (March 4), Halligan posted a hat trick and added two steals. In the team's last five games, she has 11 goals, six assists, 10 steals and four earned exclusions. Overall, despite playing in just 11 games, Halligan has recorded 15 goals, 13 assists and 17 steals in her debut season.
Fast Starts Fueling Bruins -- UCLA has outscored opponents 52-9 in 13 first quarters this season. It stands as the team's lowest-scoring defensive frame thus far. In their win over San Jose State (March 4), the Bruins led 6-0 after one quarter of play. It marked their third such opening frame of the season (7-0 vs. UC San Diego on Jan. 22, 6-0 vs. UC Irvine on Feb. 25). Individually, Halligan has scored in six straight first quarters. She has scored eight goals in all over those 48 minutes. UCLA holds advantages in the second (54-13), third (56-16) and fourth (46-10) quarters, as well.
Record Watch -- Bruin redshirt senior Rachel Fattal has already maneuvered up the UCLA individual career record books over the team's first 13 games, and is within striking distance of the top spot in two notable categories. Fattal currently sits in fourth place on the all-time scoring list with 197 goals. Next in her sights is Katie Rulon (2006-09), who netted 201 goals in her career. The all-time record holder is Kelly Rulon (2003, 2005-07), who scored 237 goals over the course her career. Also, Fattal sits at 174 takeaways for her career, seven behind Kelly Rulon's (2006-09) 181 for a share of the all-time mark.
In the Cage -- Goalkeeper Carlee Kapana, who shared time in goal with the departed Alex Musselman in 2016, has tallied 112 saves over 11.84 games played this season (9.46 saves per game). In the Bruins' win over San Jose State, the sophomore did not surrender a goal over her three quarters of play. In four of her appearances this season, Kapana relinquished just one goal. For the year, she holds a 3.80 goals against average. Kapana also earned her second career MPSF honor and first Player of the Week award on Feb. 21. Freshman Hannah Storum, meanwhile, has finished in the cage four times. She has tallied 13 saves and surrendered three goals in 4.66 quarters played this season. Between the two goalies, the Bruin GAA sits at 3.69.
Exclusive Company -- The Bruins have outscored opponents 208-48 through 13 games this season. The 208 goals scored stands as the most by a Bruin team over that period of time, a record that it holds by 25 goals over the next closest team (2008). The 160-goal difference between UCLA and their opponents, meanwhile, is also a record. With the 48 goals allowed, the 2017 Bruins join their predecessors from 2003 (43), 2002 (45), 1998 (44) and 1996 (44) as UCLA teams that have surrendered fewer than 50 goals over their first 13 contests.
Head Coach Brandon Brooks -- Brandon Brooks (UCLA '05) returns for his eighth season, having compiled a 178-39 record over his first seven. Brooks, the 2015 MPSF Coach of the Year, has coached UCLA to three MPSF Tournament titles in six seasons (2010, 2012, 2015). In addition, the Bruins have advanced to the MPSF Tournament championship match five times during his tenure. Twenty-three of Brooks' players have earned 39 All-America certificates, and 21 players have earned 38 All-MPSF awards. As an assistant coach with the men's and women's programs, Brooks was involved in four NCAA championships, and as a player, he was part of two NCAA title teams (1999 and 2000). A two-time Olympic goalkeeper, Brooks was the starting goalkeeper for the 2004 U.S. team that won the silver medal in Athens.
