Saturday, December 1
Stanford, CA
5:00 PM

UCLA

7
vs
8

USC

Jake Cavano
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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STANFORD, Calif. --ย No. 2 and third-seeded UCLA (23-5, 1-2) couldn't hold a 4-2 lead midway through the second quarter and had its season come to an end with an 8-7 loss to No. 3 and second-seeded USC (29-3, 2-1) inย the NCAA Semifinals on Saturday evening at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.

The Bruins were led by freshman Jake Cavano, who tied for game-high scoring honors with a hat trick.ย Redshirtย 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 Molthenย set upย 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 Hannesย 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 assistedย Roneย for a cross-cage score to open the scoring in the second (6:21), giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Evan Rosenfeldย set upย Cavanoย 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. Roneย 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'Saย opened the scoring in the third period with a power play goal (2:45) to give the Trojans their first lead of the game. Travisanoย 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. Cavanoย 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 Cavanoย completed his hat trick on a power play (2:21). Then Sam Slobodienย 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.ย 2 USC 1 3 1 3 8

6x5 -ย UCLA - 5/8ย - USC - 3/8
Penalties -ย UCLA - 0/0 - USC - 0/0

UCLA Goals:ย Jake Cavanoย 3, David Stilingย 1, Warren Snyder 1, Austin Roneย 1, Chasen Travisano 1
UCLA Saves:ย Alex Wolf 16

USC Goals:ย Hannesย Daube 3, Matt Maier 1, Sawyer Rhodes 1, Zach D'Sa 1, Jacob Mercepย 1, Sam Slobodien
USC Saves:ย Nic Porterย 

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