Emma LinebackEmma Lineback
Elijah Carr

Emma Lineback scored a game-high, season-high-tying, and career-high-tying five goals in the win over LMU.

No. 2 UCLA Advances to NCAA Semifinals

Women's Water Polo

No. 2 UCLA defeated No. 10 LMU, to advance to tomorrow's NCAA Semifinal (11:00 a.m. PT).

UCLA WATER POLO UCLA WATER POLO
INDIANAPOLIS – No. 2 UCLA (20-5) advanced to the NCAA Semifinals with an 11-8 win over 10th-ranked LMU (20-12) on Friday afternoon at IU Natatorium. With the win, the Bruins improved to 30-1 all-time against the Lions in the series history.

Redshirt junior Emma Lineback paced the Bruins' offense with a career-high- and season-high-tying five goals. She also added two assists to finish with a game-high seven total points. Junior Bia Mantellato had a hat trick and added an assist for a total of four points on the afternoon. Junior Anna Pearson was the only other Bruin to record multiple goals with two scores to go with her game-high five exclusions drawn.

Sophomore Lauren Steele earned the start and went the distance, recording nine saves and three steals, while surrendering eight scores. 

The Bruins got off to a slow start, fueled by nerves, and trailed LMU 3-2 at the end of the first period. Then the Lions scored the first two goals of the second period to build a 5-2 advantage with 4:43 remaining in the second period. But Mantellato scored back-to-back goals (3:45 and 2:27) to pull the Bruins to within one. Pearson tacked on a power play goal (0:46) to tie the score at 5-5 entering halftime.

LMU continued to lead at 7-6 (5:00) until Lineback put the team on her back and scored three unanswered goals (4:46, 3:00, and 1:27) to give the Bruins their first lead of the game. The Lions cut the Bruins' lead to 9-8 with a penalty conversion with 0:10 left in the third. 

UCLA pitched a shutout in the final period, tacking on two more scores to provide the 11-8 final. Mantellato (7:34) and Lineback (5:05) scored the lone goals of the fourth period. 

UP NEXT: 
The Bruins will face No. 3 USC in the NCAA Semifinals tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET at IU Natatorium with the game being streamed live on NCAA.com.

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 10 LMU (NCAA Quarterfinal Game - IU Natatorium - Game 25)
SCOREBOARD 1 2 3 4 FINAL
No. 10 LMU 3 2 3 0 8
No. 2 UCLA 2 3 4 2 11

6x5 - UCLA - 1/14 - LMU - 2/10
Penalties - UCLA - 0/0 - LMU - 3/3

LMU Goals: Ruth Arino Ruiz 5, Carolina Magano 3
LMU Saves: Alyssa Barnuevo 9

UCLA Goals: Emma Lineback 5, Bia Mantellato 3, Anna Pearson 2, Sienna Green 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 9