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No. 4 UCLA Men's Water Polo Defeats No. 1 USC, 5-4, in NorCal Tournament
September 20, 2009 | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 20, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 4 UCLA men's water polo team earned a berth in the NorCal Tournament championship with a 5-4 victory against No. 1 USC in a semifinal contest on Sunday afternoon at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.
Sophomore Cullen Hennessy led the Bruins (8-0) with two goals, including the game-winning score with three seconds to play in the match. Senior goalkeeper Chay Lapin registered a season-high 11 saves in a strong effort in goal for UCLA.
The Bruins also received one goal each from seniors Cole Consani and Scott Davidson and junior Ben Hohl.
USC secured a 2-1 lead through the first quarter, and each team exchanged one goal in the second frame. Trailing 3-2 at halftime, UCLA tied the contest, 4-4, by the end of three periods.
UCLA held the Trojans (7-1) scoreless in the final quarter, before Hennessy netted the game-winner to send the Bruins to the NorCal Tournament championship match for the second consecutive season. The Bruins will play the winner of Sunday afternoon's semifinal between Stanford and California.
The NorCal Tournament championship game is slated to begin at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.
No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 1 USC (NorCal Tournament - Semifinal)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| UCLA | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| USC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
UCLA Goals: Cullen Hennessy 2, Cole Consani, Scott Davidson, Ben Hohl
UCLA Saves: Chay Lapin 11
USC Goals: J.W. Krumpholz 2, Shea Buckner, Kyle Sterling
USC Saves: Joel Dennerley 5
