Saturday, April 27
Bloomington, IN
12:30 PM
UCLA
22-0
10
vs
4
USC
18-7
1
2
3
4
F
Southern California
1
2
0
1
4
UCLA
3
3
3
1
10
Hannah Palmer scored a season-high and career-high-tying five goals in the win over USC (photo by Bobby Goddin).
UCLA Advances to MPSF Championship with 10-4 Win Over USC
April 27, 2024 | Women's Water Polo
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. --ย Top-ranked UCLA (22-0, 6-0 MPSF) advanced to the MPSF Championship with a 10-4 win over crosstown rival, No. 5 USC,ย on Saturday afternoon. The Bruins improved to 55-40 all-time against the Trojans with USC dropping to 18-7 on the year.
UCLA had six different players score in the contest, paced by a season-high and career-high-tying five goals from graduate student Hannah Palmer. No other Bruin scored more than one goal, but senior Malia Allen registered four points (one goal and three assists), and freshman Becca Melanson tallied three points (all assists).
Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Steele got the start in the cage and played all but the final 3:16 of the fourth quarter,ย recording 17 saves while giving up just three goals. Senior Sydney Chiangย closed out the game and recorded two stops while surrendering one score. In all, the Bruins' defense held USC to a season-low four goals, including holding the Trojans to 0-for-8 on power plays. This is the second straight game that UCLA has held an opponent to a season-low (held No. 5 California to a season-low-tying six goals two weeks ago, and then held USC to a then-season-low-tying five goals last week).
The Bruins scored the first two goals of the game and led wire-to-wire. Junior Molly Renner opened the scoring with a power play goal (6:18). Then Palmer netted her first (4:19) from the front court. After USC scored its first goal (3:51), freshman Dania Innis scored from two meters (0:49) to end the scoring in the first with the Bruins leading 3-1.
Sophomore Anna Pearson opened the scoring in the second period (6:17) to push the lead to 4-1. Another Trojan goal (5:49) was followed by back-to-back goals from Palmer (5:11 and 2:14) to complete her hat trick while extending UCLA's advantage to 6-2. The Trojans scored on a penalty shot (1:52) to end the scoring in the second with the Bruins leading 6-3 at the break.
UCLA dominated the third period, 3-0, to push the lead to 9-3 heading into the final stanza. Palmer's fourth goal opened the scoring in the third (7:09) and was followed by a score from senior Malia Allen (5:11). Palmer scored her fifth goal (0:43) to end the scoring in the third.
Both teams scored just one goal in the fourth quarter. USC scored with just 1:01 left and senior Anneliese Miller answered with her first score (0:43) on the next possession to end the scoring in the game, providing the 10-4 final.
UP NEXT: UCLA will face the third-ranked and second-seeded California Golden Bears on Sunday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m. PT/1:30 p.m. ET for the MPSF Championship. Cal advanced to the title match with a 10-4 win over No. 4 Stanford in the other semifinal.
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 5 USC (MPSF Championship - Semifinals - Game 22)
6x5 -ย UCLA - 1/5 - USC - 0/8
Penalties -ย UCLA - 0/1ย - USC - 1/1
USC Goals:ย Rachel Gazzaniga 2, Emma Lawson 1, Julia Janov 1
USC Saves:ย Carolyne Stern 3
UCLA Goals:ย Hannah Palmer 5, Dania Innis 1, Molly Renner 1, Anneliese Miller 1, Malia Allen 1, Anna Pearson 1
UCLA Saves:ย Lauren Steele 17, Sydney Chiang 2
ย
UCLA had six different players score in the contest, paced by a season-high and career-high-tying five goals from graduate student Hannah Palmer. No other Bruin scored more than one goal, but senior Malia Allen registered four points (one goal and three assists), and freshman Becca Melanson tallied three points (all assists).
Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Steele got the start in the cage and played all but the final 3:16 of the fourth quarter,ย recording 17 saves while giving up just three goals. Senior Sydney Chiangย closed out the game and recorded two stops while surrendering one score. In all, the Bruins' defense held USC to a season-low four goals, including holding the Trojans to 0-for-8 on power plays. This is the second straight game that UCLA has held an opponent to a season-low (held No. 5 California to a season-low-tying six goals two weeks ago, and then held USC to a then-season-low-tying five goals last week).
The Bruins scored the first two goals of the game and led wire-to-wire. Junior Molly Renner opened the scoring with a power play goal (6:18). Then Palmer netted her first (4:19) from the front court. After USC scored its first goal (3:51), freshman Dania Innis scored from two meters (0:49) to end the scoring in the first with the Bruins leading 3-1.
Sophomore Anna Pearson opened the scoring in the second period (6:17) to push the lead to 4-1. Another Trojan goal (5:49) was followed by back-to-back goals from Palmer (5:11 and 2:14) to complete her hat trick while extending UCLA's advantage to 6-2. The Trojans scored on a penalty shot (1:52) to end the scoring in the second with the Bruins leading 6-3 at the break.
UCLA dominated the third period, 3-0, to push the lead to 9-3 heading into the final stanza. Palmer's fourth goal opened the scoring in the third (7:09) and was followed by a score from senior Malia Allen (5:11). Palmer scored her fifth goal (0:43) to end the scoring in the third.
Both teams scored just one goal in the fourth quarter. USC scored with just 1:01 left and senior Anneliese Miller answered with her first score (0:43) on the next possession to end the scoring in the game, providing the 10-4 final.
UP NEXT: UCLA will face the third-ranked and second-seeded California Golden Bears on Sunday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m. PT/1:30 p.m. ET for the MPSF Championship. Cal advanced to the title match with a 10-4 win over No. 4 Stanford in the other semifinal.
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 5 USC (MPSF Championship - Semifinals - Game 22)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 5 USC | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
Penalties -ย UCLA - 0/1ย - USC - 1/1
USC Goals:ย Rachel Gazzaniga 2, Emma Lawson 1, Julia Janov 1
USC Saves:ย Carolyne Stern 3
UCLA Goals:ย Hannah Palmer 5, Dania Innis 1, Molly Renner 1, Anneliese Miller 1, Malia Allen 1, Anna Pearson 1
UCLA Saves:ย Lauren Steele 17, Sydney Chiang 2
ย
Team Stats
USC
UCLA
Shots
32
24
Goals
4
10
Assists
3
8
Points
7
18
Exclusions
5
8
Steals
7
2
Sprints
3
0
1
Molly Renner
6:18
Hannah Palmer
4:19
Rachel Gazzaniga
3:51
Dania Innis
0:49
2
Anna Pearson
6:17
Rachel Gazzaniga
5:49
Hannah Palmer
5:11
Hannah Palmer
2:14
Julia Janov
1:52
3
Hannah Palmer
7:09
Malia Allen
5:11
Hannah Palmer
0:43
4
Emma Lawson
1:01
Anneliese Miller
0:43
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
6
Goals
5
Assists
0
Points
5
Shots
3
Goals
0
Assists
3
Points
3
Shots
2
Goals
1
Assists
3
Points
4
Shots
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
Points
2
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
/ Women's Water Polo
CTR
/ Women's Water PoloATK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water PoloATK
/ Women's Water Polo
UTL
/ Women's Water PoloATK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
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