Saturday, December 1
Stanford, CA
5:00 PM
UCLA
7
vs
8
USC
Freshman Jake Cavano had a game-high-tying three goals against USC.
Photo by: John Hilinski
Third-Seeded UCLA Falls in NCAA Semifinals, 8-7
December 01, 2018 | Men's Water Polo
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The Bruins were led by freshman Jake Cavano, who tied for game-high scoring honors with a hat trick. Redshirt junior Alex Wolf started in the cage and went the distance, registering a career-high-tying 16 saves while allowing eight goals. Three seniors scored in the game with Austin Rone, David Stiling and Warren Snyder all scoring goals in their final collegiate game for UCLA.
Freshman Ashworth Molthen set up Stiling for the first goal of the game (7:25) on a power play as the Bruins jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Trojan freshman Hannes Daube tied the game at 1-1 (0:33) with a nearside goal from the front court after an ordinary to end the scoring in the first period.
Sophomore Chasen Travisano assisted Rone for a cross-cage score to open the scoring in the second (6:21), giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Evan Rosenfeld set up Cavano for his first score of the game on a power play (5:43) to push the lead to 3-1. Daube scored his second of the game (5:13) on a power play to cut the lead to 3-2. Rone then set up Snyder (4:54) for a senior to senior connection for a power play score to extend the lead to 4-2. But Matt Maier (3:40) and Sawyer Rhodes (3:21) tied the game at 4-4 with back-to-back goals for the Trojans. That score would hold until halftime.
Zach D'Sa opened the scoring in the third period with a power play goal (2:45) to give the Trojans their first lead of the game. Travisano scored his first goal of the game, ending the scoring in the third period with a heater nearside post to tie the game at 5-5 at the 1:21 mark.
Jacob Mercep scored his first of the game on a power play to open the scoring in the fourth (5:27), giving USC a 6-5 lead. Cavano scored his second of the game on a power play (3:51) to tie the game at 6-6. Daube then completed a hat trick with a score from the front court (2:37) to put USC up 7-6. The Bruins tied it up at 7-7 on the next possession when Cavano completed his hat trick on a power play (2:21). Then Sam Slobodien snuck one past the Bruins with a nearside shot (0:05) for the game-winning goal.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 2 USC (NCAA Championship - Semifinal)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 3 UCLA | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| No. 2 USC | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
6x5 - UCLA - 5/8 - USC - 3/8
Penalties - UCLA - 0/0 - USC - 0/0
UCLA Goals: Jake Cavano 3, David Stiling 1, Warren Snyder 1, Austin Rone 1, Chasen Travisano 1
UCLA Saves: Alex Wolf 16
USC Goals: Hannes Daube 3, Matt Maier 1, Sawyer Rhodes 1, Zach D'Sa 1, Jacob Mercep 1, Sam Slobodien
USC Saves: Nic Porter
Players Mentioned
ATK/UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
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UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
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/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
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ATK
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