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LOS ANGELES -- No. 2 UCLA (12-0) advanced to the finals of the 2023 Overnght MPSF Invitational with a 14-10 win at No. 3 USC (8-2) on Saturday evening at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. UCLA improved to 95-90-1 all-time in the series history.
The Bruins had seven players score in the contest, led by a season-high seven goals from senior Rafael Real Vergara. Vergara finished with nine total points as he also had two assists. Freshman Ben Liechty was the only other Bruin to reach double digits with two goals (also had one assist). Redshirt freshman Frederico Jucá Carsalade scored two points (one goal and one assist) as did senior Jack Larsen (one goal and one assist).
Senior Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying 12 saves while surrendering 10 goals.
UCLA won the first period, 3-2, after trailing 2-0. Real Vergara scored three points in the opening quarter with two goals and one assist for three total points. Freshman Wade Sherlock wasted no time to find the back of the net in his first Crosstown Splashdown as well, scoring off a feed from Real Vergara.
The Bruins dominated the second quarter, 5-2, to take an 8-4 lead into the break. The quarter was highlighted by a hat trick from Real Vergara to tie his season-high of five goals before halftime. UCLA also got one goal each from the Larsen brothers with Ben Larsen scoring at 7:05 and Jack Larsen scoring at 2:49.
The Trojans won the third quarter, 3-2, to trim the Bruins' lead to 10-7 heading into the final stanza. Jucá Carsalade and Ben Liechty scored a goal apiece for the Bruins.
UCLA won the fourth quarter, 4-3, to provide the 14-10 final. Ben Liechty scored the eventual game-winning goal at the start of the fourth to put UCLA up 11-7. The Trojans would score the next two goals to cut it to 11-9, but would never get closer. UCLA would answer with two straight goals, the first by senior Giorgio Alessandria (4:36) and the latter to Real Vergara (3:27) for his sixth of the game. Real Vergara would add his seventh with 1:27 to go to end the scoring.
UP NEXT: The Bruins will take on #1 California in the 2023 Overnght MPSF Invitational title game on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1:00 p.m. at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Admission is free.
No. 2 UCLA at No. 3 USC (Overnght MPSF Invitational - Semifinals - Game 12)
6x5 - UCLA - 4/6 - USC - 1/12
Penalties - UCLA - 2/2 - USC - 0/1
UCLA Goals: Rafael Real Vergara 7, Ben Liechty 2, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Wade Sherlock 1, Jack Larsen 1, Ben Larsen 1, Giorgio Alessandria 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 12
USC Goals: Massimo Di Martire 3, Carson Kranz 3, Max Miller 1, Tom McGuire 1, Luka Brnetic 1, Evan Ausmus 1
USC Saves: Bernardo Herzer 2
LOS ANGELES -- No. 2 UCLA (12-0) advanced to the finals of the 2023 Overnght MPSF Invitational with a 14-10 win at No. 3 USC (8-2) on Saturday evening at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. UCLA improved to 95-90-1 all-time in the series history.
The Bruins had seven players score in the contest, led by a season-high seven goals from senior Rafael Real Vergara. Vergara finished with nine total points as he also had two assists. Freshman Ben Liechty was the only other Bruin to reach double digits with two goals (also had one assist). Redshirt freshman Frederico Jucá Carsalade scored two points (one goal and one assist) as did senior Jack Larsen (one goal and one assist).
Senior Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying 12 saves while surrendering 10 goals.
UCLA won the first period, 3-2, after trailing 2-0. Real Vergara scored three points in the opening quarter with two goals and one assist for three total points. Freshman Wade Sherlock wasted no time to find the back of the net in his first Crosstown Splashdown as well, scoring off a feed from Real Vergara.
The Bruins dominated the second quarter, 5-2, to take an 8-4 lead into the break. The quarter was highlighted by a hat trick from Real Vergara to tie his season-high of five goals before halftime. UCLA also got one goal each from the Larsen brothers with Ben Larsen scoring at 7:05 and Jack Larsen scoring at 2:49.
The Trojans won the third quarter, 3-2, to trim the Bruins' lead to 10-7 heading into the final stanza. Jucá Carsalade and Ben Liechty scored a goal apiece for the Bruins.
UCLA won the fourth quarter, 4-3, to provide the 14-10 final. Ben Liechty scored the eventual game-winning goal at the start of the fourth to put UCLA up 11-7. The Trojans would score the next two goals to cut it to 11-9, but would never get closer. UCLA would answer with two straight goals, the first by senior Giorgio Alessandria (4:36) and the latter to Real Vergara (3:27) for his sixth of the game. Real Vergara would add his seventh with 1:27 to go to end the scoring.
UP NEXT: The Bruins will take on #1 California in the 2023 Overnght MPSF Invitational title game on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1:00 p.m. at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Admission is free.
No. 2 UCLA at No. 3 USC (Overnght MPSF Invitational - Semifinals - Game 12)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 2 UCLA | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
| No. 3 USC | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
Penalties - UCLA - 2/2 - USC - 0/1
UCLA Goals: Rafael Real Vergara 7, Ben Liechty 2, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Wade Sherlock 1, Jack Larsen 1, Ben Larsen 1, Giorgio Alessandria 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 12
USC Goals: Massimo Di Martire 3, Carson Kranz 3, Max Miller 1, Tom McGuire 1, Luka Brnetic 1, Evan Ausmus 1
USC Saves: Bernardo Herzer 2