UCLA
Wagner (First Round)
Bruins Head to NCAAs as Top Seed
May 09, 2017 | Women's Water Polo
INDIANAPOLIS -- Twelve days after capturing the MPSF Tournament title and the conference's automatic bid into the 2017 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship, the Bruins are in Indianapolis as one of eight teams with a chance to be crowned the nation's best. UCLA will take on Wagner in Friday's initial First-Round contest (9:00 a.m, PT). All games from the IU Natatorium will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
Total Appearances: 21
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 15
Overall Won-Lost Record: 57-11
Shutouts in Tournament Games: 2
Record in Championship Games: 11-3
Total National Championships: 11
NCAA Championships: 7
2nd Place Finishes: 3
3rd Place Finishes: 5
Most Consecutive Titles Won: 5
UCLA's All-Time Titles: 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
The Series -- The Bruins hold a 1-0 all-time record against the Seahawks. The first meeting also occurred in the first round of the NCAAs, as UCLA raced out to a 10-1 lead after one quarter of play en route to a 22-2 win. That game, played at the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Mich., kick-started the Bruins' run to the third NCAA championship in program history, and the seventh national championship.
MPSF Tournament Recap -- Top-seeded UCLA captured the 11th MPSF title in program history when it defeated second-seeded Stanford in the conference championship game on April 30. The Bruins blanked the Cardinal for the duration of the second half, during which they scored three goals of their own to secure their second title in three years. Rachel Fattal led the way with a hat trick and added two of UCLA's 13 steals. Fattal also played a pivotal role in the Bruins' 9-8 semifinal win over fifth-seeded California, as she recorded a key field block on the Golden Bears' final possession. UCLA twice rallied from a second-half deficit. Fattal earned MVP honors for the three-day event, while Maddie Musselman, who recorded four goals and a team-high five steals, joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
Awards Season -- Musselman was named the MPSF Newcomer of the Year, while Brandon Brooks earned Coach of the Year honors, as announced Tuesday, May 2 by the conference office. Six Bruin players received conference accolades, led by First-Team recipients Musselman and Rachel Fattal. Kodi Hill (Second-Team), Alys Williams and Carlee Kapana (Honorable Mention) rounded out the All-MPSF recipients, while Musselman and Bronte Halligan were selected to the All-Newcomer team. Fattal joined Kelly Rulon as the only Bruins to earn three First-Team honors over the course of their careers. Brooks earned his third COY award, Williams her third All-MPSF Honorable Mention accolade and Hill her second Second-Team selection.
Weekly MPSF Honors -- Three Bruins earned weekly MPSF honors over the course of the season, setting a record and establishing a first along the way. Musselman was named Newcomer of the Week a conference-record seven times (Jan. 17, Jan. 24, March 7, March 14, March 21, April 18, April 25), topping the previous high of five set by Stanford's Jordan Raney in 2015. Additionally, Musselman became the first player to earn both Newcomer and Player of the Week honors in the same week, when she accomplished the feat following the Bruins' MPSF top-seed clinching win over USC on April 22. In addition to Musselman's eight weekly awards, Kapana and Hill also each earned a Player of the Week nod. Hill's second career honor (April 18) came after a third-quarter hat trick that keyed a Bruin upset victory over then-No. 1 Stanford, while Kapana's first POW award (Feb. 21) followed a 13-save performance in a 16-1 UCLA victory over UC Irvine.
Top-Tier Competition -- With UCLA's win over No. 2 Stanford in the MPSF title game, the Bruins improved to 6-1 against Top-4 teams on the season. UCLA has recorded two wins against then-No. 4 California (12-11, Feb, 26; and 10-4, March 18), one each against No. 4 Arizona State (13-5, April 8) and then-No. 2 USC (11-7, April 22) and now two over then-No. 1/No. 2 Stanford (10-9, April 15; and 6-3, April 30). The Bruins suffered their lone loss to then-No. 2 USC (10-9, Feb. 25). On the year, the Bruins have outscored Top-4 opponents, 71-49. Individually, Musselman leads the Bruins with 18 goals in these contests, while Fattal has 17. They share the lead with 13 sprints won. Kodi Hill, meanwhile, has posted a Bruin-high 18 assists. Musselman also leads the team with 10 steals. Alys Williams has 11 goals and a UCLA-high 10 earned exclusions over the seven games.
Exclusive Company -- The Bruins have outscored opponents 337-100 through 23 games this season. The 337 goals scored has only been bested by the 338 scored by the 2007 team. The 237-goal difference between UCLA and its opponents, meanwhile, is also the second highest in program history. The 1998 team outscored its opponents by 238 goals (310-72). With the 100 goals allowed, the 2017 Bruins have been bested by their predecessors from 2003 (61), 1998 (72), 1996 (75), 2006 (82), 2002 (91) and 2005 (95).
In the Cage -- Goalkeeper Carlee Kapana has tallied 170 saves over 20.99 games played this season (8.10 saves per game). The sophomore allowed zero goals in three quarters of the Bruins MPSF-opening win over San Jose State. In four of her appearances this season, Kapana has surrendered just one goal. For the year, she holds a 4.34 goals-against average--good for second in the MPSF. Freshman Hannah Storum, meanwhile, has finished in the cage on eight occasions. She has tallied 20 saves and surrendered nine goals in 8.05 quarters played this season.
At the Helm -- Brandon Brooks (UCLA '05) currently in his eighth season, has compiled a 200-40 record thus far. Brooks, now a three-time MPSF Coach of the Year (2012, 2015, 2017), has coached UCLA to four MPSF Tournament titles in six seasons (2010, 2012, 2015, 2017). In addition, the Bruins have advanced to the MPSF Tournament championship match six times during his tenure. Twenty-three of Brooks' players have earned 39 All-America certificates (through 2016), and 24 players have earned 45 All-MPSF awards. As an assistant coach with the men's and women's programs, Brooks was involved in four NCAA championships, and as a player, he was part of two NCAA title teams (1999 and 2000). A two-time Olympic goalkeeper, Brooks was the starting goalkeeper for the 2004 U.S. team that won the silver medal in Athens.
Milestone Watch -- In addition to the 100th win by Brooks, a number of players have alsoreached milestones this season. They include: Mackenzie Barr (100 steals), Fattal (200 goals, 100 assists), Hill (100 goals, 100 steals) and Alexa Tielmann (100 goals).
