UCLA
Long Beach State
No. 3 UCLA Crushes No. 17 Long Beach State, 16-6
February 22, 2019 | Women's Water Polo
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IRVINE, Calif. -- No. 3 UCLA (15-1) won its first game at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational with a dominant 16-6 victory over No. 17 Long Beach State on Friday afternoon at UC Irvine Aquatics Center. All 16 teams in the field are nationally ranked with every team in the Top 10 represented.
The Bruins were led by senior Sarah Sheldon who scored a season-high and career-high-tying three goals. Other Bruins with multiple goals included junior Maddie Musselman, senior Louise Hazell and freshmen Bella Baia and Val Ayala, each with two scores. Senior Carlee Kapana started in goal for UCLA, playing the first half, registering six saves while allowing two goals. Sophomore Jahmea Bent came on in relief in the second half and tallied a season- and career-high-tying nines saves while surrendering four goals.
UCLA jumped out to a 5-1 lead by the end of the first period. Five different Bruins scored in the first quarter with redshirt senior Grace Reego scoring from the front court (7:13) and Baia (6:01) and sophomore Roxy Wheaton (3:10) scoring on 6-on-5 opportunities. Musselman converted on a penalty shot (2:31) and sophomore Lexi Liebowitz added a counter attack strike (1:11) to end the scoring in the first.
The Bruins won the second quarter, 4-1, to increase their lead to 9-2 at halftime. Ayala scored both of her goals in the second frame, scoring on a power play (7:16) and finding the back of the cage from the front court (4:31). UCLA scored six straight goals from the first to the second period, which included a power play goal from senior Rachel Whitelegge (2:49) and Baia connecting on a power play (2:05) for her second score of the contest.
A 4-2 scoring advantage followed in the third period as UCLA stretched its lead to 13-4 heading into the fourth. The third quarter was all Sheldon as she single-handedly outscored the 49ers. She scored on a counter (6:59) and added two goals from two meters (5:40 and 2:35). Musselman sandwiched her second of the game on a goal from the front court (4:39) in between Sheldon's two scores at set.
The fourth period was the closest of the quarters with UCLA winning 3-2 to provide the 16-6 final. Senior Kelsey Blacker kicked things off in the fourth with a goal at set (5:18), followed by two scores from Hazell, who converted on a penalty shot (3:07) and then scored on a power play (2:22).
The Bruins return to action on Saturday, Feb. 23 at UC Irvine's Barbara Kalbus Invitational against No. 6 Michigan at 11:45 a.m. PT at the UC Irvine Aquatics Center.
No. 17 Long Beach State vs. No. 3 UCLA (Barbara Kalbus Invitational - Game One)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 17 LBSU | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 16 |
6x5 - UCLA - 6/9 - LBSU - 2/10
Penalties - UCLA - 2/2 - LBSU - 0/2
LBSU Goals: Marilia Mimidi 1, Annabel Marman 1, Sarah Barker 1, Kate Yasko 1, Orsi Hertzka 1, Isabel Riley 1
LBSU Saves: Eirini Patra 7
UCLA Goals: Sarah Sheldon 3, Maddie Musselman 2, Bella Baia 2, Louise Hazell 2, Val Ayala 2, Grace Reego 1, Rachel Whitelegge 1, Kelsey Blacker 1, Roxy Wheaton 1, Lexi Liebowitz 1
UCLA Saves: Jahmea Bent 9, Carlee Kapana 6
