UCLA
USC
UCLA Wins UC Irvine Invitational Title
February 23, 2015 | Women's Water Polo
The victory enabled the Bruins (14-1) to snap a four-game losing streak to the defending NCAA champions, who suffered their first loss of the season.
The Bruins held a slim 4-3 lead entering fourth quarter where Stanford scored twice and UCLA once to force overtime at 5-5. Each team scored once in the first overtime, while Pratt's goal in the second gave the Bruins a title and a win.
The victory handed UCLA its third UC Irvine Invitational title and raised the Bruins' overall record in the tournament to 30-6.
In their morning semifinal, UCLA beat USC 5-3 to advance to the championship game for the sixth time in the tournament's history. The victory over the Trojans was the third straight for the Bruins, and secured five points in the Crosstown Cup.
In a game marked by key goals and tough defense, the Bruins prevailed in both categories to win their 13th game of the season. Senior Danielle Ferraro scored UCLA's first goal at 7:06 of the first quarter on a lob shot from a sharp angle over USC goalkeeper Victoria Chamorro. The quarter ended with UCLA goalie Sami Hill making a pair of saves on shots by USC's Ioanna Haralabidis.
The Bruins increased their lead to 2-0 in the second quarter, when junior Alys Williams slipped a goal inside the right post at 5:18. In a key defensive stand, the Bruins managed to thwart a pair of shots on goal during a USC power play. Late in the quarter, after UCLA senior Emily Donohoe was excluded, the Trojans got on the board with a goal from Brianna Daboub that narrowed the score to 2-1.
A steal by Ioanna Haralabidis created a breakaway goal by Daboube that knotted the score at 2-2. The Bruins answered later on with a power play goal by sophomore Mackenzie Barr at 3:07. After Hill made another save on a tricky USC skip shot, Williams fired her own skipper past Chamorro with 12 seconds remaining in the third for a 4-2 lead.
Hill made a save midway through the fourth quarter on Monica Vavic's penalty attempt. After stealing a pass, the Bruins called a timeout with 1:54 remaining. On the ensuing UCLA possession, Barr scored as the shot clock expired to give the Bruins a 5-2 cushion. On USC's next possession, the Bruins blocked Vavic's attempt. The Bruins milked the clock on their possession, and their long shot attempt missed. USC called timeout with 0:21 remaining, and Vavic scored with two seconds on the clock for the final 5-3 result.
To access the UCLA women's water polo schedule, click here.
Boxscores
1 2 3 4 OT1 OT2 F
STAN 2 0 1 2 1 0 -- 6
UCLA 1 1 2 1 1 1 -- 7
STAN goals: K. Neushul (2), Steffens (2), J. Neushul, Raney
UCLA goals: Pratt (3), Williams (2), Barr, K. Hill
Saves: Stone (STAN) - 7; Hill (UCLA) – 8
1 2 3 4 F
UCLA 1 1 2 1 -- 5
USC 0 1 1 1 -- 3
UCLA goals: Williams (2), Barr (2), Ferraro
USC goals: Daboub, Daube, Vavic
Saves: Hill (UCLA) - 11; Chamorro (USC) – 7
Junior Charlotte Pratt scored three goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lift second-ranked UCLA to a 7-6 victory over top-ranked Stanford for the UC Irvine Invitational title.
The victory enabled the Bruins (14-1) to snap a four-game losing streak to the defending NCAA champions, who suffered their first loss of the season.
The Bruins held a slim 4-3 lead entering fourth quarter where Stanford scored twice and UCLA once to force overtime at 5-5. Each team scored once in the first overtime, while Pratt's goal in the second gave the Bruins a title and a win.
The victory handed UCLA its third UC Irvine Invitational title and raised the Bruins' overall record in the tournament to 30-6.
In their morning semifinal, UCLA beat USC 5-3 to advance to the championship game for the sixth time in the tournament's history. The victory over the Trojans was the third straight for the Bruins, and secured five points in the Crosstown Cup.
In a game marked by key goals and tough defense, the Bruins prevailed in both categories to win their 13th game of the season. Senior Danielle Ferraro scored UCLA's first goal at 7:06 of the first quarter on a lob shot from a sharp angle over USC goalkeeper Victoria Chamorro. The quarter ended with UCLA goalie Sami Hill making a pair of saves on shots by USC's Ioanna Haralabidis.
The Bruins increased their lead to 2-0 in the second quarter, when junior Alys Williams slipped a goal inside the right post at 5:18. In a key defensive stand, the Bruins managed to thwart a pair of shots on goal during a USC power play. Late in the quarter, after UCLA senior Emily Donohoe was excluded, the Trojans got on the board with a goal from Brianna Daboub that narrowed the score to 2-1.
A steal by Ioanna Haralabidis created a breakaway goal by Daboube that knotted the score at 2-2. The Bruins answered later on with a power play goal by sophomore Mackenzie Barr at 3:07. After Hill made another save on a tricky USC skip shot, Williams fired her own skipper past Chamorro with 12 seconds remaining in the third for a 4-2 lead.
Hill made a save midway through the fourth quarter on Monica Vavic's penalty attempt. After stealing a pass, the Bruins called a timeout with 1:54 remaining. On the ensuing UCLA possession, Barr scored as the shot clock expired to give the Bruins a 5-2 cushion. On USC's next possession, the Bruins blocked Vavic's attempt. The Bruins milked the clock on their possession, and their long shot attempt missed. USC called timeout with 0:21 remaining, and Vavic scored with two seconds on the clock for the final 5-3 result.
To access the UCLA women's water polo schedule, click here.
