UCLA
Wagner
No. 4 Bruins Cap Perfect Michigan Trip
January 28, 2018 | Women's Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 4 UCLA women's water polo team concluded its time at the Michigan Invitational Sunday with wins over two ranked opponents. The Bruins topped No. 20 Wagner, 14-7, and No. 9 Pacific, 10-4, to run their record to 4-0 over two days.
Ten different Bruins scored over the course of Sunday's two games.
It took just 23 seconds for Maddie Musselman to strike for a 1-0 Bruin lead. Just past the halfway point of the opening frame, the Seahawks' Kimberly Watson evened the score with a power-play goal. It did not take long for UCLA to retake the lead, as Alexis Angermund answered (3:27) to inch back ahead.
Angermund's score began a run on goals by the Bruins (9-0), with Louise Hazell (1:58) netting the next one to give UCLA a 3-1 advantage after one. Bronte Halligan converted on a penalty shot (7:22 before Kelsey Blacker netted consecutive even-strength goals (6:26, 4:44) to establish a five-goal cushion. Wagner's Kristy Donkin responded with two goals of her own (3:34, 2:55) to make the Bruin lead 6-3, before Bruin Devin Grab and Seahawk Watson alternated scoring strikes to send the game to the half with UCLA leading, 7-4.
Musselman once again struck early in the third, doubling up Wagner (1-3) at 8-4 (7:08). Lexi Liebowitz added her first (4:58) before Grab picked up her second (2:59)—both at even strength. Sarah Sheldon added one more (0:15) to complete a 4-0 third-quarter shutout and put the Bruins up 11-4. Hannah Storum posted a pair of her six saves in the frame.
Nicole Reynolds scored her first two goals of the morning to begin the fourth (7:12, 6:03) and give the Bruins their largest lead of the game at 13-4. Watson completed a hat trick (5:44) before Emily Skelly scored the Bruins' final goal of the game (4:23) to make the lead 14-6.
Blacker got scoring started in UCLA's afternoon game against Pacific (4-2), posting her third of the day on a power play at 5:55 of the opening stanza. The Tigers answered quickly when Kyra Christmas connected to tie it up (5:32). Skelly would help the Bruins retake the lead as 4:47, when she continued her torrid scoring spree.
Lizette Rozeboom (7:21) and Musselman (6:45) upped the Bruin advantage to 4-1 in the second, while Viktoria Szmodics scored just past the midway point of the quarter to keep the Tigers in it. The rest of the quarter would belong to Musselman, however, as the sophomore completed a first-half hat trick (3:08, 0:03) to give the Bruins a 6-2 lead.
It was a veteran takeover to begin the second half, as the Bruins notched their second 4-0 third-quarter advantage of the day. Grab (7:41), Rozeboom (3:05) and Angermund (1:10, 0:28) scored, while Carlee Kapana did not allow a goal in her final quarter before being relieved by Storum.
The Tigers scored two in the fourth, but the damage was done, as the Bruins secured their fourth win in two days.
No. 4 UCLA 14, No. 20 Wagner 7
No. 20 Wagner (1, 3, 0, 3 – 7)
GOALS: Watson – 3; Donkin – 2; Anderson, Begg – 1
No. 4 UCLA (3, 4, 4, 3 – 14)
GOALS: Blacker, Grab, Musselman, Reynolds – 2; Angermund, Halligan, Hazell, Liebowitz, Sheldon, Skelly – 1
No. 4 UCLA 10, No. 9 Pacific 4
No. 9 Pacific (1, 1, 0, 2 – 4)
GOALS: Szmodics – 2; Christmas, Krieger – 1
No. 4 UCLA (2, 4, 4, 0 – 10)
GOALS: Musselman – 3; Angermund, Rozeboom – 2; Blacker, Grab, Skelly – 1
