UCLA
UC Irvine
No. 3 UCLA Finishes Second at Triton Invitational
February 10, 2019 | Women's Water Polo
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- No. 3 UCLA (13-1) placed second at the Triton Invitational on Sunday night at UC San Diego's Triton Pool after an 11-6 win over No. 6 UC Irvine in the semifinals and a 10-3 setback to No. 1 USC (12-0) in the championship game.
In the win over UC Irvine, the Bruins were led by freshman Val Ayala, who scored her fifth hat trick of the season as eight different Bruins got in the scoring column. Redshirt senior Grace Reego scored two goals for UCLA. Senior Carlee Kapana started in goal for UCLA, playing most of the game, tallying six saves while allowing four goals. Sophomore Jahmea Bent came on in relief with 3:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, recording one stop while allowing two scores.
The Bruins jumped out to a 3-1 lead by the end of the first period behind two scores from Ayala (front court and power play). Reego added a power play goal in the period.
Another 3-1 period followed for the Bruins as UCLA built a 6-2 lead by halftime, all on the strength of 6-on-5 opportunities. UCLA received power play goals in the second quarter from senior Kelsey Blacker, sophomore Lexi Liebowitz and freshman Katrina Drake.
The Anteaters battled to a 2-2 tie in the third period as UCLA took an 8-4 lead into the final stanza. Junior Maddie Musselman got on the scoreboard with a penalty shot conversion and Reego netted her second of the game on a power play.
UCLA won the fourth quarter, 3-2. Ayala chipped in another power play goal to complete her hat trick while senior Rachel Whitelegge opened the scoring in the fourth on a power play for her lone goal of the contest. Freshman Skylar Savar added a goal from two meters to provide the 11-6 final.
No. 6 UC Irvine vs. No. 3 UCLA (Triton Invitational - Semifinals)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 6 UC Irvine | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
6x5 - UCLA - 9/12 - UCI - 2/7
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - UCI - 0/0
UCI Goals: Tara Prentice 2, Avalon Gook 1, Isabel Rack 1, Raegan Castillo 1, Toni Shackelford
UCI Saves: n/a
UCLA Goals: Val Ayala 3, Grace Reego 2, Rachel Whitelegge 1, Maddie Musselman 1, Kelsey Blacker 1, Skylar Savar 1, Katrina Drake 1, Lexi Liebowitz 1
UCLA Saves: Carlee Kapana 6, Jahmea Bent 1
In the loss to the Trojans, the Bruins were led by juniors Maddie Musselman and Bronte Halligan and sophomore Lexi Liebowitz, with each scoring one goal. Senior Carlee Kapana started in goal for UCLA and played the first half, tallying five saves while allowing six goals. Sophomore Jahmea Bent came on in relief and played the second half, registering five saves while allowing four scores.
USC led 4-0 at the end of the first period and 6-0 at halftime.
The Bruins battled to a 2-2 tie in the third period, but trailed 8-2 heading into the final quarter. Musselman scored on a penalty shot and Liebowitz scored on a 6-on-5 opportunity.
Halligan added the Bruins' only goal at full strength from the front court, the only score for UCLA in the fourth, to provide the 10-3 final.
The Bruins return home to host No. 6 UC Irvine in the Bruins' only game of the week on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 1:00 p.m. PT.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 1 USC (Triton Invitational - Championship Game)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 3 UCLA | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| No. 1 USC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
6x5 - UCLA - 1/5 - USC - 1/5
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - USC - 1/1
UCLA Goals: Maddie Musselman 1, Bronte Halligan 1, Lexi Liebowitz 1
UCLA Saves: Carlee Kapana 5, Jahmea Bent 5
USC Goals: Maud Megens 3, Paige Hauschild 3, Denise Mammolito 2, Tilly Kearns 1, Alejandra Aznar 1
USC Saves: n/a
