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LOS ANGELES -- No. 3 UCLA (17-3, 1-0) opened MPSF play with a huge 9-7 victory over No. 3 California (10-3, 0-1) on Sunday afternoon at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center.
In the win over the Golden Bears, the Bruins were led by junior Maddie Musselman who scored two goals. Senior Carlee Kapana started in goal for UCLA, going the distance, recording five saves while surrendering seven goals. The Bruins' defense was stellar with a season-high nine field blocks in the game.
The game was the exact opposite of last week's 7-6 loss in overtime to the Golden Bears. In that game, UCLA trailed by four at halftime after being scoreless in the first half. This time, the Bruins scored the first five goals of the game and led 5-1 at the break. The Bruins led 2-0 at the end of the first period with a power play goal by freshman Ava Johnson (6:18) off a nice feed from sophomore Lexi Liebowitz and a goal from the front court by freshman Bella Baia (0:46).
Senior Kelsey Blacker opened the scoring in the second period with a goal from two meters (7:37) off a feed from freshman Katrina Drake. Drake would register another assist on a goal from the front court by redshirt senior Grace Reego (6:34). Senior Rachel Whitelegge would take a feed from Blacker to score from two meters (5:02) to put UCLA up 5-0. Kitty Lynn Joustra scored a goal at set for the Golden Bears (4:39) to trim the Bruins' lead to 5-1 at halftime.
Cal scored the first three goals of the third period to make it four straight goals, cutting the Bruins' advantage to just one at 5-4 with 1:12 remaining in the third period. Musselman would end the scoring drought with a power play goal (0:48), ending the scoring for the period with UCLA clinging to a 6-4 edge heading into the fourth.
The two teams would trade goals throughout the four period with UCLA having an answer every time California scored. Emma Wright scored her first of the game from the front court (7:16) to cut the Bruins' lead to 6-5. But junior Bronte Halligan scored her lone goal of the game from the front court (6:20) to push the lead to 7-5. Elli Protopapas made it 7-6 (3:24) with a score from the front court. But Musselman scored her second of the game on a power play (2:48) off a pass from Ayala on the next possession by UCLA to push it to 8-6. Wright would score her second of the game for Cal on a power play (1:21) to cut UCLA's lead to 8-7. But Ayala scored a power play goal off an assist from Halligan (0:55) to push the lead back to two goals at 9-7. One defensive stop was all the Bruins needed and UCLA ran out the final 29 seconds to secure the victory.
UCLA returns to action on Saturday, March 16, when it travels Tempe, Ariz., for an MPSF doubleheader, beginning with Arizona State at 11:30 a.m. PT and concluding with league newcomer, Indiana, at 3:00 p.m. PT at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
No. 3 California at No. 4 UCLA (MPSF Opener)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 3 California | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| No. 4 UCLA | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
6x5 - UCLA - 4/8 - CAL - 1/4
Penalties - UCLA - 0/1 - CAL - 0/0
CAL Goals: Brigit Mulder 2, Emma Wright 2, Kitty Lynn Joustra 1, Elli Potropapas 1, Carla Traplin 1
CAL Saves: Madison Tagg 9
UCLA Goals: Maddie Musselman 2, Rachel Whitelegge 1, Grace Reego 1, Bella Baia 1, Kelsey Blacker 1, Val Ayala 1, Ava Johnson 1, Bronte Halligan 1
UCLA Saves: Carlee Kapana 5