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LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 1 UCLA (6-1, 0-0 MPSF) saw its 32-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday afternoon, falling to No. 3 USC, 14-11, in the title game of the Triton Invitational at UC San Diego's Canyonview Aquatic Center. UCLA fell to 55-41 against the Trojans in the series history.
A total of eight different Bruins scored against USC, paced by a pair of goals each from senior Molly Renner, redshirt junior Emma Lineback, and sophomore Becca Melanson. Lineback finished with a game-high four assists to pace all scorers with six points.
Steele got the start in the cage and went the distance, recording 12 saves and three steals while allowing 14 goals.
The Bruins took a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period, but USC won the second period, 3-2, to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the break. Renner scored her second of the game at the 3:09 mark to put the Bruins in front, 7-6. But the Trojans went on a 4-0 run, the largest of the game for either team, to take control. Melanson scored her second goal of the contest with 0:58 remaining to pull UCLA to within one score at 12-11. But the Bruins couldn't get a needed stop and USC scored twice in the final minute to provide the 14-11 final.
Up Next: The Bruins will head to Tempe, Ariz., to open MPSF play at No. 7 Arizona State (9-2, 0-0 MPSF) on Sunday, Feb. 9 at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at 1:00 p.m. PT.
LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 1 UCLA (6-1, 0-0 MPSF) saw its 32-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday afternoon, falling to No. 3 USC, 14-11, in the title game of the Triton Invitational at UC San Diego's Canyonview Aquatic Center. UCLA fell to 55-41 against the Trojans in the series history.
A total of eight different Bruins scored against USC, paced by a pair of goals each from senior Molly Renner, redshirt junior Emma Lineback, and sophomore Becca Melanson. Lineback finished with a game-high four assists to pace all scorers with six points.
Steele got the start in the cage and went the distance, recording 12 saves and three steals while allowing 14 goals.
The Bruins took a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period, but USC won the second period, 3-2, to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the break. Renner scored her second of the game at the 3:09 mark to put the Bruins in front, 7-6. But the Trojans went on a 4-0 run, the largest of the game for either team, to take control. Melanson scored her second goal of the contest with 0:58 remaining to pull UCLA to within one score at 12-11. But the Bruins couldn't get a needed stop and USC scored twice in the final minute to provide the 14-11 final.
Up Next: The Bruins will head to Tempe, Ariz., to open MPSF play at No. 7 Arizona State (9-2, 0-0 MPSF) on Sunday, Feb. 9 at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at 1:00 p.m. PT.
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 3 USC | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
6x5 - UCLA - 2/10 - USC - 3/9
Penalties - UCLA - 3/3 - USC - 0/0
USC Goals: Rachel Gazzaniga 4, Emily Ausmus 2, Ava Stryker 2, Maggie Johnson 1, Emma Lawson 1, Ava Knepper 1, Morgan Netherton 1, Alma Yaacobi 1, Tilly Kearns 1
USC Saves: Jada Ward 7
UCLA Goals: Becca Melanson 2, Emma Lineback 2, Molly Renner 2, Lauren Steele 1, Bia Mantellato 1, Taylor Smith 1, Anna Pearson 1, Tali Stryker 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 12