UCLA
17-0
Princeton
14-6
No. 1 UCLA Women's Water Polo Defeats No. 14 Princeton, 10-6
March 16, 2024 | Women's Water Polo
LOS ANGELES – The No. 1-ranked UCLA women's water polo team outscored Princeton by a 7-2 margin in the second half to secure a 10-6 win at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center on Saturday afternoon.
Anneliese Miller, Anna Pearson and Taylor Smith each scored a team-leading two goals for the Bruins (17-0). UCLA's other goal scorers included Becca Melanson, Lily Gess, Panni Szegedi and goalkeeper Lauren Steele.
The game featured three lead changes through the opening three quarters before the Bruins pulled away in the final period, outscoring Princeton by a 4-1 margin in the fourth quarter.
UCLA goalkeeper Lauren Steele finished with 10 saves and three steals.
The Bruins trailed Princeton by a 4-3 margin at halftime and tied the contest, 4-4, on a 6-on-5 goal from Pearson with 3:42 to play in the third quarter. Princeton pushed ahead, 5-4, on a goal by Kayla Yelensky with 2:04 left in the quarter.
From that point in the game, UCLA scored six of the game's final seven goals. The Bruins added two quick goals to close the third quarter and take a 6-5 lead into the final period. Smith's 6-on-5 goal tied the contest, at 1:35, before Szegedi found the back of the cage with 15 seconds to play in the third quarter.
The Bruins outscored Princeton by a 4-1 margin in the fourth quarter, claiming a 10-5 advantage on goals from Miller (at 4:31 and 1:16), Gess (at 3:05), and goalkeeper Lauren Steele (at 0:36).
Princeton's Kate Mallery finished with two goals for the visiting Tigers (14-6).
The opening half on Saturday saw Princeton score the game's first goal before UCLA secured a 3-1 cushion on a goal from Melanson in the first quarter and back-to-back scores from Pearson (at the 7:38 and 5:58 marks in the second quarter).
Princeton tied the contest, 3-3, with a pair of 6-on-5 goals with just under three minutes to play before halftime. The Tigers took a 4-3 lead with a 6-on-5 goal scored by Mallery with just four second left in the second quarter.
UCLA finished the game 7-for-14 on power-play attempts, converting at a 50 percent rate.
The Bruins will return to action against No. 17 San Jose State on Sunday, March 17. Game time at Spieker Aquatics Center is 1 p.m. (PT).
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 14 Princeton
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 14 Princeton | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
6x5 – UCLA – 7/14 // Princeton – 5/13
Penalties – UCLA – 0-0 // Princeton – 0/0
Princeton Goals: Kate Mallery 2, Meera Burghardt, Rachael Carver, Charlotte Riches, Kayla Yelensky
Princeton Saves: Lindsey Lucas 13
UCLA Goals: Anneliese Miller 2, Anna Pearson 2, Taylor Smith 2, Lily Gess, Becca Melanson, Lauren Steele, Panni Szegedi
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 10
Team Stats
Rachael Carver
01:20
Becca Melanson
00:07
Anna Pearson
07:28
Anna Pearson
05:58
Meera Burghardt
03:41
Charlotte Riches
02:56
Kate Mallery
00:04
Taylor Smith
03:42
Kayla Yelensky
02:04
Taylor Smith
01:35
Panni Szegedi
00:16
Anneliese Miller
04:31
Lily Gess
03:05
Anneliese Miller
01:16
Lauren Steele
00:36
Kate Mallery
00:04
