UCLA
Arizona State
Bruins to Host Sun Devils in MPSF Duel
March 28, 2018 | Women's Water Polo
The No. 4 UCLA women's water polo team faces sixth-ranked MPSF rival Arizona State in the Bruins' fourth straight game at Spieker Aquatics Center. UCLA has split its first two games in conference play, falling to California (March 10) on the road before bouncing back to defeat San Jose State (March 18) in Spieker's Dirks Pool. The Sun Devils have dropped their first two conference contests, losing to California (March 17) and USC (March 24) at home. Pac-12 Networks will provide coverage of this MPSF showdown, beginning at 5 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
UCLA holds an all-time record of 21-1 versus Arizona State. The Bruins have won seven in a row on the series dating back to 2013, including a Triton Invitational semifinal contest on Feb. 11 that was decided in the game's final moments. Lizette Rozeboom played the role of hero, breaking the game's fifth tie with 10 seconds remaining to capture a 7-6 win and a trip to the Triton Invite final. Rozeboom scored the first and last goals of the game, which saw Arizona State build a 3-1 lead in the first half. The Bruins scored four times in the fourth quarter. Maud Koopman and Bente Rogge each scored two goals for the Sun Devils.
WEEK IN REVIEW
The Bruins swept a home doubleheader, registering wins over No. 14 Long Beach State and No. 12 Hartwick on Saturday, March 24. Devin Grab and Maddie Musselman each netted a hat trick in the opener, a 9-4 triumph over the Beach. Rozeboom made it a trio of three-goal scorers as the sun set on Spieker and the Bruins cruised to a 15-7 victory over the Hawks in the second game. UCLA scored nine of the game's first 10 goals versus Long Beach State before pouring in eight of the first nine against Hartwick. A dozen different Bruins scored on the day, while Jahmea Bent, Carlee Kapana and Hannah Storum all spent time in the cage.
100-GOAL CLUB
Devin Grab and Lizette Rozeboom became the newest members of the program's 100-goal club with their multi-goal efforts in the Bruins' doubleheader sweep March 24. Grab hit the century mark with her hat trick against Long Beach State, while Rozeboom joined her with a three-goal performance versus Hartwick. They became the second and third Bruins to join the club this year, as Musselman reached the milestone on Feb. 25. The sophomore became the fastest Bruin to 100 career goals. She previously set the UCLA freshman record for goals scored with 69. The Newport Beach, Calif. native has not missed a beat in her second season, leading the team in goals (42) while trailing just Bronte Halligan in the assists (25) and steals departments (36). She has tallied 16 multi-goal games, including six hat tricks. For her efforts in the Bruins' win over UCI, Musselman was named MPSF Player of the Week for Week 6. She earned a conference record seven Newcomer of the Week awards during her freshman campaign, during which she was also named a First-Team ACWPC All-American and the MPSF Newcomer of the Year.
CLUTCH PERFORMERS
UCLA is 5-2 in its seven games decided by two or fewer goals and leading scorers Musselman and Rozeboom have come up big in the clutch. Musselman has scored the difference-making goal in four of those wins, while Rozeboom netted the game winner with 10 seconds remaining in the Bruins' 7-6 win over Arizona State in the semifinal round of the Triton Invitational (Feb. 11). Musselman leads the team with 10 goals scored in the fourth quarter or later of games. Skelly has eight and Rozeboom seven.
NEW CONTRIBUTORS
Thirty-five percent (81) of UCLA's 234 goals have come from either newcomers or players who participated in five or fewer games in 2017. Freshman Lexi Liebowitz leads those players with 17. Sophomore Skelly, meanwhile, has 15. Brooke Maxson (11), Kelsey Blacker (nine), Louise Hazell (eight), Sheldon (seven), Myna Simmons (five), Roxy Wheaton (five), Haley Evans (two) and Allison Wieseler (two) round out that group. The seven returners (Skelly, Maxson, Blacker, Hazell, Sheldon, Evans and Wieseler) on that list combined for just five goals in 2017.
THE WRIGHT WAY
Adam Wright, who has coached the UCLA men's water polo team to three NCAA Championships (2014, 2015, 2017), will now guide both the UCLA men's and women's water polo teams, Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero announced July 20, 2017. Wright has an overall record of 227-37 (.860) and an MPSF mark of 51-12 (.810). From 2014-16, Wright's Bruins set an NCAA record with 57 consecutive victories and a conference record with 26 consecutive MPSF wins. Prior to becoming head coach of the men's program in 2009, he served as an assistant coach with the men's and women's teams during the 2008-09 school year, helping the women win an unprecedented fifth consecutive NCAA Championship in May 2009.
FAMILIAR FACES
Wright completed his staff on Aug. 31, 2017 with the hiring of Kodi Hill, who joined Dusty Litvak as an assistant coach. A 2017 graduate of UCLA, Hill was an instrumental member of a Bruin class that amassed a record of 105-17 over its four years in the pool. Litvak previously served under Wright in the same role for the men's team during 2013 and 2014 and worked in a volunteer capacity with the women's team each of the past two seasons.
