No. 3 UCLA Advances to MPSF Semifinals
April 26, 2019 | Women's Water Polo
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STANFORD, Calif. --ย No. 3 UCLA (22-5) advanced to the semifinals of the MPSF Championship on Friday afternoon with a 10-5 win over sixth-seeded Arizona Stateย at Stanford's Avery Aquatics Center.
In the win over the Sun Devils, the Bruins were led by junior Bronte Halligan and freshman Val Ayala, who each scored two goals apiece. Seniorย Carlee Kapanaย got the starting nod in the cage for UCLA and went the distance, registering 10 saves while allowing five goals.
The Bruins pitched a shutout in the first period while netting a goal from the front court by Ayala (2:13) and a power play goal by senior Grace Reego (0:14) to take a 2-0 lead into the second period.
UCLA won the second period, 3-1, to build a 5-1 lead at the break. The Bruins scored the first three goals of the second period. Kelsey Blacker opened the scoring with a goal from two meters (5:38) followed by another score from two meters by freshman Ava Johnson (4:56). Halligan netted her first of the game from the front court at the 3:56 mark. Rosie Huck ended the scoring in the first half with a power play goal (2:17).
Arizona State won the third quarter, 3-1, to trim the lead to 6-4 heading into the fourth quarter. Halligan scored the only goal for the Bruins in the third, a strike from the front court, at the 5:40 mark.
The Bruins dominated in the fourth by a score of 4-1, to provide the 10-5 final. The first three goals were all on counters with the first coming from Ayala, her second goal of the game (6:04). Freshman Katrina Drake (4:34) and junior Maddie Musselman (2:09) each added counter attack goals. Sophomore Lexi Liebowitz added the final score of the game from the front court with 22 seconds left.
UCLA returns to action tomorrow in the semifinals against No. 2 USCย at 12:45 p.m. PT at Stanford's Avery Aquatics Center.
No. 6 Arizona State vs.ย No. 3 UCLAย (MPSF Quarterfinals)
SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
No. 6 ASU | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
No. 3 UCLA | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
6x5 -ย UCLA - 1/5 - ASU - 1/6
Penalties -ย UCLA - 0/0 - ASU - 0/0
ASU Goals:ย Lieke Rogge 2, Maud Koopman 2, Rosie Huck 1
ASU Saves:ย Bridget Johnston 3
UCLA Goals:ย Bronte Halligan 2, Val Ayala 2, Grace Reego 1, Maddie Musselman 1, Kelsey Blacker 1, Ava Johnson 1, Katrina Drake 1, Lexi Liebowitzย 1
UCLA Saves:ย Carlee Kapanaย 10