UCLA
Arizona State
UCLA Edged by USC in Triton Invite Final
February 11, 2018 | Women's Water Polo
SAN DIEGO – The No. 4 UCLA women's water polo team fell to No. 2 USC, 6-4, in the Triton Invitational title game Sunday. The game was the second of the day for the Bruins, who defeated No. 6 Arizona State, 7-6, on a Lizette Rozeboom scoring strike with 10 seconds remaining.
Maddie Musselman and Lizette Rozeboom each registered three goals across the two games. Six different Bruins found the back of the net in the semifinal win—including four in the fourth quarter. Carlee Kapana racked up 10 saves in the title game, while Hannah Storum recorded five in the earlier contest.
It was a slow start for both teams in the semifinal, which marked the first game against an MPSF opponent for each side. Just over five minutes into the opening frame, Rozeboom and the Bruins broke through for the first goal. The second quarter belonged to the Sun Devils, who got two goals from Bente Rogge and a third from Lena Mihailovic to take a 3-1 lead. Lexi Liebowitz of the Bruins made it 3-2 heading into the second half.
Bronte Halligan pulled the Bruins even just shy of the midway point of the third. Maud Koopman would answer to retake the lead for ASU heading to the fourth, when the floodgates opened. Musselman and Brooke Maxson each scored early in the stanza to give the Bruins a 5-4 lead before Kate Cassidy was finally able to pull the Sun Devils even at the 2:00 mark. Devin Grab and Koopman traded scoring strikes to keep the score level, setting the stage for Rozeboom. The Bruin junior took full advantage of a six-on-five opportunity and snuck one past Mia Rycraw to give UCLA a lead it would not relinquish.
Paige Hauschild got the Trojans on the board first in the final, though Grace Reego would quickly answer to pull the Bruins even. Brianna Daboub re-established the USC lead midway through the quarter and the Trojans maintained the edge into the second frame.
Kelsey McIntosh extended the lead to 3-1 early in the second. Defense took over for a majority of the quarter, which did not see another goal until Musselman pulled the Bruins closer with less than two minutes left in the half.
The Bruins tied the score at 4:37 of the third on a Rozeboom strike. Denise Mammolito ensured UCLA would not take its first lead, though, putting the Trojans back up with 3:07 to go in the third. Daboub and Hauschild each scored early in the fourth to give the Trojans their first three-goal lead of the game. Musselman added her second with 3:05 to go, but the Bruins were unable to do any more damage as the Trojans secured their fifth straight Triton Invite title.
Next up for the Bruins is a road date with No. 7 UC Irvine. The Bruins and Anteaters will square off Friday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.
No. 4 UCLA 7, No. 6 Arizona State 6
No. 6 Arizona State (0, 3, 1, 2 – 6)
GOALS: Koopman, Rogge – 2; Cassidy, Mihailovic – 1
No. 4 UCLA (1, 1, 1, 4 – 7)
GOALS: Rozeboom – 2; Grab, Halligan, Liebowitz, Maxson, Musselman – 1
No. 2 USC 6, No. 4 UCLA 4
No. 4 UCLA (1, 1, 1, 1 – 4)
GOALS: Musselman – 2; Reego, Rozeboom – 1
No. 2 USC (2, 1, 1, 2 – 6)
GOALS: Daboub, Hauschild – 2; Mammolito, McIntosh – 1
