University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Official Athletic Site - Women's Water Polo
2006 NCAA Champions - Season in Review
Overall Record: 29-4
MPSF Record: 11-1
The 2006 Bruins returned nearly every player aside from Natalie Golda, the 2005 Peter J. Cutino Award winner who helped lead UCLA to a 33-0 record in 2005. The Bruins had the talent, experience, and determination necessary to win their second consecutive NCAA title, their fourth in the last six seasons. While not nearly as dominant as the 2005 version, the 2006 women's water polo team outscored its opponents by a 369-134 margin. UCLA allowed just 4.1 goals per game, the best average in the nation. The Bruins finished their 2006 campaign with a 29-4 overall record and an 11-1 MPSF mark. UCLA earned the No. 3 seed entering the NCAA Tournament at UC Davis. In game one, UCLA dispatched No. 6 seed Hartwick College, 15-2. Then next day, goalkeeper Emily Feher made nine saves in the cage and Kelly Rulon added three goals to lead UCAL past Stanford, 8-5, in both teams' fourth meeting of the spring. UCLA concluded its stellar season in the most exciting fashion. Sophomore Courtney Mathewson's last-second five-meter shot found the back of the cage, handing UCLA a 9-8 victory and their second NCAA title in as many seasons.