UCLA
Arizona State
Bruins Head to Tempe for Top-4 MPSF Clash
April 07, 2017 | Women's Water Polo
LOS ANGELES -- Theย No. 3 UCLA women's water polo team travelsย to Tempe for a MPSF clash with No. 4 Arizona State on Saturday, 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.
The Series -- UCLA holds an 18-1 all-time mark against the Sun Devils, who they most recently faced in an MPSF contest at Spieker Aquatics Center last season. The Bruins recorded a 16-6 win over the visitors in a meeting of Top-4 teams that saw UCLA's Alexa Tielmann total a game-high four goals.
Coming Up -- The Bruins head north to face the No. 2 Stanford Cardinal in yet another MPSF meeting of two of the nation's highest-ranked teams. Play at the Avery Aquatic Center will begin at 3:00 p.m.
UCLA Wraps 3-0 Hawaii Trip -- In a short break from MPSF competition, UCLA traveled to Honolulu to participate in the Hawaii Invitational. When they finished, the Bruins had amassed 53 goals to their competition's 11. Against then-No. 12 San Diego State, UCLA jumped out to a 7-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 22-5 victory. Against a Top-10 Hawaii team, the Bruins allowed just two goals through three quarters and finished with a 12-4 win over the home team. The Bruins completed their trip with a 19-2 win over their third ranked opponent in as many days, UC Santa Barbara, as 13 UCLA players found the back of the net.
Bruins Remain Third in Week 12 Poll -- Once again, UCLA checked in at No. 3 in the Week 12 CWPA poll. While the Bruins totaled their three wins in Hawaii, No. 1 USC topped ASU, 11-4 (April 1) and No. 2 Stanford defeated rival California, 8-2 (April 2), to set up a showdown between No. 1 and No. 2, to be played Saturday. The Sun Devils and Golden Bears remained No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, despite their losses. 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 Making Moves -- With the third of her team-high eight goals scored over three games played at the Hawaii Invitational, Maddie Musselman became the first Bruin to total 40 goals on the season. In addition to her eight scores (including two hat tricks), Musselman totaled two assists, one field block and a team-high eight steals. She also won five sprints. Over the course of the season, Musselman has accumulated Bruin-best totals of 45 goals, 39 steals and 27 sprints won. She also has 16 assists and 16 earned exclusions. The freshman has garnered five MPSF Newcomer of the Week awards on the season. Nine times in Musselman's first 18 games, she has recorded a hat trick. The UCLA record for goals scored by a first-year player is held by teammate Rachel Fattal, who racked up 68 goals in 2013.
Exclusive Company -- The Bruins have outscored opponents 288-68 through 18 games this season. The 288 goals scored stands as the most by a Bruin team over that period of time, a record that it holds by 20 goals over the next closest team (2007). The 220-goal difference between UCLA and its opponents, meanwhile, is also a record. The next closest margin of 180 (239-59) was set by the 1998 team. With the 68 goals allowed, the 2017 Bruins have only been bested by their predecessors from 2003 (53), 1996 (58), 1998 (59) and 2002 (65) and matched by the 2006 team.
Milestone Watch -- Fattal continues her assault on the Bruin record books as the team moves deeper into the redshirt senior's campaign. In UCLA's win against 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 Fattal's four second-half scores against Cal, the attacker passed Katie Rulon to move into sole possession of third place with 204 career goals. She currently sits at 206 career goals. Fattal also has 179 career steals and will become the program leader in the category with three more takeaways. Kelly Rulon totaled 181.
In the Cage -- Goalkeeper Carlee Kapana, who shared time in goal with the departed Alex Musselman in 2016, has tallied 143 saves over 15.99 games played this season (8.94 saves per game). At the Hawaii Invitational, Kapana let just seven goals past her in 9.61 quarters played (2.91 goals-against average), and tallied 17 saves over 2.40 games played in Honolulu (7.08 saves per game). The sophomore, meanwhile, 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 3.69 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 on eight occasions. She has tallied 20 saves and surrendered nine goals in 8.05 quarters played this season. Between the two goalies, the Bruin GAA sits at 3.78.
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.
