UCLA
California
UCLA Falls to Cal in MPSF Third-Place Game
April 29, 2018 | Women's Water Polo
BERKELEY, Calif. – The No. 4 UCLA women's water polo team's time at the MPSF Championships came to a close Sunday, as the fourth-seeded Bruins fell to No. 2 California, 8-3, in the third-place game at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
Bronte Halligan scored two goals to lead UCLA. The sophomore registered a team-high eight over the course of the tournament. Maddie Musselman scored seven in the three games, including one Sunday. Carlee Kapana accumulated 13 saves for the Bruins.
The opening quarter belonged to the Golden Bears, whose defense left the Bruins in search of their first goal for the duration of the frame. Cal's Dora Antal, meanwhile, was able to capitalize on an extra-player opportunity at 4:09 to put the hosts on the board first. Brigid Mulder tacked on a second power-play goal just past the two-minute mark, sending the game into its first break with Cal leading, 2-0.
Kitty Lynn Joustra made it a three-goal Bear lead when she struck with 6:32 remaining in the second quarter. Then, just shy of the midway point of the stanza, Emma Wright made it four straight as Cal continued to turn defense into offense. The Bruins finally broke through shortly thereafter, as Maddie Musselman scored for the third time in as many games at the tournament. The goal, which marked the sophomore's 53rd of the year, sent the game to the half with the Bears leading by a 4-1 score.
Like the game's first two quarters, Cal scored first to open the third. Wright's second goal of the game extended Cal's lead to 5-1 with 5:56 to go. The Bruins' Bronte Halligan, who scored a career-high four goals versus top-seeded USC Saturday, quickly answered at 5:30 to cut into the Cal cushion. The Bears' Sarah Siepker (1:51) and Carla Carrega (0:28) would make it 7-2, however, after converting on a pair of sub-two-minute scoring opportunities.
Carrega made the most of a second power-play opportunity with 6:05 remaining in the fourth, helping the Bears to a game-high six-goal lead. Halligan completed her impressive weekend with the game's final goal at 4:36. Cal's Madison Tagg posted three of her eight saves in the final frame.
The Bruins will learn their NCAA fate when the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Selection Show airs Monday, April 30, on NCAA.com. The brackets will be unveiled at 5 p.m. (PT).
No. 2 California 8, No. 4 UCLA 3
No. 4 UCLA (0, 1, 1, 1 – 3)
GOALS: Halligan – 2; Musselman – 1
SAVES: Kapana – 13
No. 1 USC (2, 2, 3, 1 – 8)
GOALS: Carrega, Wright – 2; Antal, Joustra, Mulder, Siepker – 1
SAVES: Tagg – 8
