LOS ANGELES – The third-ranked UCLA women's water polo team never trailed en route to a 10-7 win against No. 5 Arizona State in MPSF play Saturday at Spieker Aquatics Center. ASU's goal total was a season low. UCLA held the Sun Devils to eight goals in a January meeting.
Lauren Steele recorded 12 saves, two assists and one steal for the Bruins (17-2, 4-1 MPSF). Emma Lineback posted her fourth hat trick in the past five games, scoring three times. She also had four assists. Anna Pearson and Taylor Smith added two goals apiece. ASU (23-5, 1-4) was led by Itziar Almeda, who scored four times. Keri Glad logged three saves and two saves for the Sun Devils.
Lineback got scoring started with a counter-attack effort at 5:53 of the opening quarter. Jojo Walters added another just shy of the four-minute mark, which ASU answered to get on the board. Lineback capitalized on a five-meter penalty opportunity in the final two minutes to make the Bruin lead 3-1.
The Sun Devils struck first at 6:14 of the next frame. Pearson responded 13 seconds later, though, and Smith registered another at 5:04. ASU scored the next two goals – one on a power play and the other at even strength – cutting its deficit to one. Lineback would close out scoring once again, though, converting a six-on-five chance to complete her hat trick with 22 seconds left before halftime.
The Sun Devils made it a one-goal game once again at 4:53 of the third quarter. It was once again Pearson and Smith, though, providing answers – and a cushion – for UCLA.
ASU scored twice in the final eight minutes, but so did the Bruins. Bia Mantellato and Elektra Urbatsch tallied the goals, while Steele stopped four shots.
UCLA finishes out the home portion of its schedule Sunday against No. 7 LMU. Action begins at 1 p.m. PT. The Bruins will be celebrating Senior Day, with a recognition for 11 student-athletes and one sports medicine intern set for immediately after the game.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arizona State
6x5: Arizona State – 1/7, UCLA – 3/7
Penalties: Arizona State – 1/1, UCLA – 1/1
Arizona State Goals: Itziar Almeda 4, Sydney Krushen 2, Millie Quin 1
Arizona State Saves: Keri Glad 3
UCLA Goals: Emma Lineback 3, Anna Pearson 2, Taylor Smith 2, Bia Mantellato 1, Elektra Urbatsch 1, Jojo Walters 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 12
Lauren Steele recorded 12 saves, two assists and one steal for the Bruins (17-2, 4-1 MPSF). Emma Lineback posted her fourth hat trick in the past five games, scoring three times. She also had four assists. Anna Pearson and Taylor Smith added two goals apiece. ASU (23-5, 1-4) was led by Itziar Almeda, who scored four times. Keri Glad logged three saves and two saves for the Sun Devils.
Lineback got scoring started with a counter-attack effort at 5:53 of the opening quarter. Jojo Walters added another just shy of the four-minute mark, which ASU answered to get on the board. Lineback capitalized on a five-meter penalty opportunity in the final two minutes to make the Bruin lead 3-1.
The Sun Devils struck first at 6:14 of the next frame. Pearson responded 13 seconds later, though, and Smith registered another at 5:04. ASU scored the next two goals – one on a power play and the other at even strength – cutting its deficit to one. Lineback would close out scoring once again, though, converting a six-on-five chance to complete her hat trick with 22 seconds left before halftime.
The Sun Devils made it a one-goal game once again at 4:53 of the third quarter. It was once again Pearson and Smith, though, providing answers – and a cushion – for UCLA.
ASU scored twice in the final eight minutes, but so did the Bruins. Bia Mantellato and Elektra Urbatsch tallied the goals, while Steele stopped four shots.
UCLA finishes out the home portion of its schedule Sunday against No. 7 LMU. Action begins at 1 p.m. PT. The Bruins will be celebrating Senior Day, with a recognition for 11 student-athletes and one sports medicine intern set for immediately after the game.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arizona State
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 5 Arizona State | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
6x5: Arizona State – 1/7, UCLA – 3/7
Penalties: Arizona State – 1/1, UCLA – 1/1
Arizona State Goals: Itziar Almeda 4, Sydney Krushen 2, Millie Quin 1
Arizona State Saves: Keri Glad 3
UCLA Goals: Emma Lineback 3, Anna Pearson 2, Taylor Smith 2, Bia Mantellato 1, Elektra Urbatsch 1, Jojo Walters 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 12