University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Bruins Travel to Tempe on Apr. 4 for MPSF Showdown with Sun Devils
The Bruins (19-1, 3-0) will be facing the Sun Devils (16-6, 2-2) for the first time this season. UCLA leads the all-time series, 16-1 and beat Arizona State twice last season, once in the MPSF Tournament semifinals. ASU’s only victory in the series came in Tempe in 2013.
The Bruins’ offensive attack features six players scoring more than 20 goals this season and another four scoring 10 or more goals. Junior All-America attacker Rachel Fattal leads the Bruins with 34 goals and 45 steals. Junior Defender Alys Williams (28) has scored in all but two of the games in which she has played this year.
On defense, UCLA has shut down several high-scoring conference teams. In victories against Stanford (10-6), USC (5-3), Cal (10-3) and San Jose State (7-3) each team’s goal total was its lowest of the season. USC, Stanford and Cal are the three top scoring teams in the conference. Senior goalkeeper Sami Hill ranks second in the conference in goals allowed average at 4.21.
Arizona State is the sixth-best scoring team in the conference, but boasts a trio of quality scorers in sophomores Izabella Chiappini (48 goals), Alkistis Benekou (40) and senior Petra Pardi (36). Junior Goalkeeper E.B. Keeve leads the conference in saves with 203 (13.31/game)
To access the UCLA women’s water polo schedule, click here.