UCLA
California
No. 4 UCLA Tops No. 2 Cal, 7-5
February 25, 2018 | Women's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. โ The No. 4 UCLA women's water polo team got off to a hot start in Saturday's Barbara Kalbus Invitational third-place game before holding on to defeat No. 2 California, 7-5. Maddie Musselman scored four goals for the Bruins, who improved to 15-2 heading into MPSF play.
The Bruins controlled the opening frame, jumping out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a first-possession goal by Brooke Maxson. Soon after, Maddie Musselman capitalized on a power play opportunity to increase the advantage to 2-0. Devin Grab continued the six-on-five success at 4:21, converting off a feed from Myna Simmons to give the Bruins three unanswered.
The second quarter was more of the same, as Musselman netted her second of the day on a penalty shot just under a minute into the frame. Lexi Liebowitz made it a 5-0 game at 5:02, giving the Bruins their largest lead of the game. An Emma Wright penalty shot jumpstarted the Golden Bear offense at 3:21, putting Cal on the board for the first time. Dora Antal would take advantage of a UCLA exclusion at 1:38, sending the game to the half with the Bruins leading by a 5-2 score.
Both teams were held scoreless for just over five minutes in the third quarter as each goalkeeper nixed shot after shot. Madison Tagg tallied six saves on the day for the Golden Bears, while Carlee Kapana totaled 13 for the Bruins. Carla Carrega finally got the Cal offense on track with a pair of six-on-five goals over the span of 1:23 to bring the Golden Bears within one. They would get no closer, though, as Musselman was successful on another penalty shot to complete her fifth hat trick of the year.
The sophomore from Corona del Mar, Calif. would add one more at 6:09 of the final stanza to make it an even four and stretch the Bruin lead back to three at 7-4. Anna Illes converted once more for the Golden Bears (1:14), but it was too little, too late.
Next up for UCLA is another date with Cal to begin conference play. The Bruins will pay a visit to Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley, Calif. to face the Golden Bears Saturday, March 10 at noon.
No. 4 UCLA 7, No. 2 California 5
No. 4 UCLA (3, 2, 1, 1 โ 7)
GOALS: Musselman โ 4; Grab, Liebowitz, Maxson โ 1
No. 2 California (0, 2, 2, 1 โ 5)
GOALS: Carrega โ 2; Antal, Illes, Wright โ 1
