UCLA
4-0, 2-0MPSF
California
5-2, 0-2MPSF
No. 2 UCLA Rallies to Defeat No. 6 California, 9-8
March 14, 2021 | Women's Water Polo
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LOS ANGELESย --ย No. 2 UCLA (4-0, 2-0 MPSF) rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to remain undefeated on the year with a 9-8 win overย No. 6 California (5-2, 0-2ย MPSF) on Sunday morning at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins improved to 61-13ย all-time against the Golden Bears with their fifth straight win over California.
Junior Ava Johnson tied for game-high scoring honors with a hat trick while senior Lexi Liebowitzย had two scores, including the game-winning goal in the fourth period. Senior Jahmea Bentย got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying eightย saves while allowing eightย goals.
Johnson got the Bruins on the board first with a power play goalย (4:32). Junior Bella Baia then broke a 1-1 tie with a nearside goal (3:54) to put the Bruins back in front. But California scored two unanswered goals to lead 3-2 at the end of the first period.
The Bruins were held scoreless in the second period while holding the Golden Bears to just one score and trailed 4-2 at the break.
Johnson got the Bruins immediately on the comeback trail in the third with a powerful goal at set (7:38). After a goal by the Golden Bears, junior Katrina Drake found the back of the net on a power play (4:58) to pull to within one at 5-4. Liebowitz netted her first of the game to tie it at 5-5 (3:23). After Cal regained the lead, sophomore Hannah Palmer walked it in and scored (0:52) to tie the game at 6-6 heading into the fourth.
Cal would score first in the fourth (7:07), but Johnson would complete her hat trick with another goal from two meters (5:42) to tie it at 7-7. Palmer scored her second goal of the game to give the Bruins an 8-7 lead with 4:24 remaining. Cal tied the game at 8-8 (3:41) to set up Liebowitz's game-winning heroics. She scored on a 6-on-5 opportunity with 1:03 to go to provide the game-winning goal and the 9-8 final score.
UCLAย returns to action on Saturday, Mar. 27 when it travels to Stanford. Game time is still TBD.
No. 6 California at No. 2 UCLAย (MPSF Game - Game 4)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 6 California | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| No. 2 UCLA | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
6x5 -ย UCLA - 3/10ย - CAL - 3/11
Penalties -ย UCLA - 0/0 - CAL - 0/0
CAL Goals:ย Elli Protopapas 3, Reagan Whitney 2, Brigit Mulder 1, Grace Raisin 1, Shea Salvino 1
CAL Saves:ย Cassidy Ball 8
UCLA Goals:ย Ava Johnson 3, Lexi Liebowitz 2, Hannah Palmerย 2, Katrina Drakeย 1, Bella Baiaย 1
UCLA Saves:ย Jahmea Bent 8
Team Stats
Ava Johnson
4:32
Reagan Whitney
4:15
Bella Baia
3:54
Grace Raisin
2:35
Reagan Whitney
0:44
Elli Protopapas
0:45
Ava Johnson
7:38
Elli Protopapas
5:27
Katrina Drake
4:58
Lexi Liebowitz
3:23
Brigit Mulder
2:39
Hannah Palmer
0:52
Elli Protopapas
7:07
Ava Johnson
5:42
Hannah Palmer
4:24
Shea Salvino
3:41
Lexi Liebowitz
1:03
