UCLA
San Diego State
Bruins to Face Three Ranked Foes in Hawaii
March 29, 2017 | Women's Water Polo
The Bruins travel to Honolulu to take part in the Hawaii Invitational. UCLA will play three non-MPSF games at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex, beginning with No. 12 San Diego State on Thursday, March 30. Play will begin at 10:15 p.m. (PT). The Bruins will also take on host No. 8 Hawai'i the following day (9:00 p.m.) and conclude their trip with No. 12 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, April 1 (3:00 p.m.).
The Series -- UCLA has an extensive history with all three opponents, as they hold all-time records of 39-4 record against San Diego State, 47-3 against Hawaii and 37-1 against UCSB. The Bruins faced the same trio in 2016, as they defeated the Aztecs by a 6-5 score (Feb. 27), the Rainbow Wahine twice by tallies of13-8 (Jan. 23) and 10-6 (Feb. 28) and the Gauchos by a score of 8-5 (Jan. 23).
Coming Up -- The Bruins will travel to Tempe for a MPSF clash with No. 4 Arizona State on April 8. Play at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center will begin at 1:00 p.m. (PT) and be broadcast on ASU Live Stream-2.
Second-Half Surge -- UCLA will be returning to action nearly two weeks after it defeated then-No. 4 California, 10-4, in an MPSF showdown at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins led just 3-2 at the half, but exploded for five of the game's next six goals to establish a cushion down the stretch. Rachel Fattal scored four goals over the final two quarters to lead the charge. The defense, meanwhile, surrendered just four goals--seven less than the Golden Bears' total in the teams' first matchup on February 26.
Milestone Watch -- Fattal continues to assault the Bruin record books as the team moves deeper into MPSF play. In UCLA's win against then-No. 23 CSU Bakersfield (March 11), Fattal netted a hat trick to become the fourth member of the school's 200-career-goal club. The list previously included just Kelly Rulon (237 - 2003, 05-07), Coralie Simmons (235 - 1996-98, 2001) and Katie Rulon (201 - 2006-09). Then, with the Fattal's four second-half scores against Cal, the redshirt senior passed Katie Rulon to move into sole possession of third place with 204 career goals.. She also has 177 career steals and will become the program leader in the category with five more takeaways. Kelly Rulon currently holds the record with 181.
Exclusive Company -- The Bruins have outscored opponents 235-57 through 15 games this season. The 235 goals scored stands as the most by a Bruin team over that period of time, a record that it holds by 29 goals over the next closest team (2008). The 178-goal difference between UCLA and their opponents, meanwhile, is also a record. The next closest margin of 144 (197-53) was set by the 1998 team. With the 57 goals allowed, the 2017 Bruins have only been bested by their predecessors from 1996 (49), 2003 (50), 2002 (51) and 1998 (53).
Bruins Remain Third in Week 10 Poll -- The Bruins once again checked in at No. 3 in the Week 10 CWPA poll. While UCLA was inactive, No. 1 USC picked up wins over Princeton (12-3), San Jose State (19-3) and Hartwick (21-5), while No. 2 Stanford defeated CSU Bakersfield in its lone game of the week, 19-2. Those teams also remained entrenched atop the poll. There was a change at the No. 4 spot, though, as Arizona State's win over Cal was enough to propel the Sun Devils ahead of the Golden Bears this week. Additionally, UCLA was 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 marked 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.
Musselman Secures Fifth Newcomer Honor -- Freshman Maddie Musselman was named the MPSF Newcomer of the Week Tuesday (March 21) as announced by the league. The award was her third in as many weeks. Musselman got things started in the Bruins' 10-4 win over No. 4 California with the game's lone first-quarter goal. Goalies alternated saves until the first-year attacker found the back of the net with 43 seconds remaining to give UCLA a lead it would never relinquish. On defense, Musselman keyed an effort that saw the Bruins hold the Golden Bears to a season-low four-goal output. The attacker totaled two steals and two field blocks. She also won three sprints. This is Musselman's fifth Newcomer of the Week award and fifth career MPSF honor. On the year, the attacker has totaled team highs of 37 goals and 31 steals, as well as a team-high-tying 14 earned exclusions.
In the Cage -- Goalkeeper Carlee Kapana, who shared time in goal with the departed Alex Musselman in 2016, has tallied 126 saves over 13.59 games played this season (9.27 saves per game). The sophomore has allowed just six goals in the Bruins' first three MPSF contests, including zero in their conference-opening win over San Jose State. In four of her appearances this season, Kapana has surrendered just one goal. For the year, she holds a 3.75 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 five times. She has tallied 16 saves and surrendered six goals in 5.66 quarters played this season. Between the two goalies, the Bruin GAA sits at 3.80.
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.
