LOS ANGELES – The second-ranked UCLA women's water polo team scored the first five goals and cruised to a 15-4 non-conference victory against No. 11 Harvard Saturday afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins improved to 3-0 all-time against the Crimson.
Bia Mantellato led UCLA (16-2) with a hat trick. Taylor Smith, Emma Lineback, and Lily Gess each scored twice for the Bruins. Niki Piovan paced the Crimson (23-2) with a hat trick.
Lauren Steele returned to the cage after missing the last three games and had four saves and one steal while allowing three goals in the first half. Joey Niz came on in relief in the second half and registered two saves and two steals while giving up one score. Harvard was led by Orli Cooper's five saves and one steal while surrendering all 15 goals.
UCLA won the first period, 7-1, with five different Bruins (Gess, Lineback, Smith, Mantellato, and Dania Innis) all scoring before Harvard got on the board. Jenna Human scored and Mantellato added her second of the game to end the scoring in the opening frame.
The Bruins won a tight second period, 3-2, to build a 10-3 lead at halftime. Elektra Urbatsch and Anna Pearson scored in the period and Lineback added her second of the game.
Smith added her second of the game on a power play, the Bruins' only goal of the third period. Harvard also only scored once in the period, also on a power play, to send the game into the final stanza with UCLA leading 11-4.
A little history was made in the fourth quarter as redshirt freshman Ryan Chalupnik played in the first game of her collegiate career, scoring her first goal from two meters at the 2:58 mark. The Bruins won the fourth period, 4-0, to provide the 15-4 final. Genoa Rossi also scored in the period while Mantellato added her third of the game with Gess netting her second.
UCLA continues its homestand Saturday, March 28 against No. 8 Arizona State at 1 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center.
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 11 Harvard
6x5: Harvard – 3/4, UCLA – 4/10
Penalties: Harvard – 0/0, UCLA – 1/1
Harvard Goals: Niki Piovan 3, Maya O'Dea 1
Harvard Saves: Orli Cooper 5
UCLA Goals: Bia Mantellato 3, Emma Lineback 2, Taylor Smith 2, Lily Gess 2, Anna Pearson 1, Genoa Rossi 1, Ryan Chalupnik 1, Jenna Human 1, Dania Innis 1, Elektra Urbatsch 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 4, Joey Niz 2
Bia Mantellato led UCLA (16-2) with a hat trick. Taylor Smith, Emma Lineback, and Lily Gess each scored twice for the Bruins. Niki Piovan paced the Crimson (23-2) with a hat trick.
Lauren Steele returned to the cage after missing the last three games and had four saves and one steal while allowing three goals in the first half. Joey Niz came on in relief in the second half and registered two saves and two steals while giving up one score. Harvard was led by Orli Cooper's five saves and one steal while surrendering all 15 goals.
UCLA won the first period, 7-1, with five different Bruins (Gess, Lineback, Smith, Mantellato, and Dania Innis) all scoring before Harvard got on the board. Jenna Human scored and Mantellato added her second of the game to end the scoring in the opening frame.
The Bruins won a tight second period, 3-2, to build a 10-3 lead at halftime. Elektra Urbatsch and Anna Pearson scored in the period and Lineback added her second of the game.
Smith added her second of the game on a power play, the Bruins' only goal of the third period. Harvard also only scored once in the period, also on a power play, to send the game into the final stanza with UCLA leading 11-4.
A little history was made in the fourth quarter as redshirt freshman Ryan Chalupnik played in the first game of her collegiate career, scoring her first goal from two meters at the 2:58 mark. The Bruins won the fourth period, 4-0, to provide the 15-4 final. Genoa Rossi also scored in the period while Mantellato added her third of the game with Gess netting her second.
UCLA continues its homestand Saturday, March 28 against No. 8 Arizona State at 1 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center.
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 11 Harvard
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 11 Harvard | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| No. 2 UCLA | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
6x5: Harvard – 3/4, UCLA – 4/10
Penalties: Harvard – 0/0, UCLA – 1/1
Harvard Goals: Niki Piovan 3, Maya O'Dea 1
Harvard Saves: Orli Cooper 5
UCLA Goals: Bia Mantellato 3, Emma Lineback 2, Taylor Smith 2, Lily Gess 2, Anna Pearson 1, Genoa Rossi 1, Ryan Chalupnik 1, Jenna Human 1, Dania Innis 1, Elektra Urbatsch 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 4, Joey Niz 2