UCLA
Ottawa University - Arizona
No. 2 UCLA Crushes OUAZ, 14-2
January 19, 2020 | Women's Water Polo
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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- No. 2 UCLA (4-1) held the Spirit scoreless for the first three quarters and cruised to a 14-2 win over OUAZ (Ottawa University - Arizona) on Sunday morning to conclude play at the UCSB Winter Invitational at UCSB's Campus Pool. This was the first-ever meeting between the two schools as this is the first year of the OUAZ program's existence.
The Bruins were led by a hat trick from sophomore Ava Johnson, the third of her career. Redshirt freshman Georgia Phillips got the starting nod and played the first half, pitching a shutout while registering eight saves. Freshman Quinn Winter played the second half, recording three saves while surrendering two scores.
UCLA led 6-0 at the end of the first period. The Bruins spent the first quarter feeding the middle as Johnson scored once from two meters and freshman Rachel Spadt scoring the first two goals of her career at set. Johnson also added a counter score for her second goal of the game. Junior Lexi Liebowitz scored from the front court and sophomore Val Ayala converted on a penalty shot to end the scoring in the period.
Three front court scores highlighted the second period, one each by freshman Abbi Hill, sophomore Katrina Drake and senior Emily Skelly. Johnson completed her hat trick with a goal from two meters to end the scoring in the second with UCLA leading 10-0 at the break.
OUAZ had a stronger defensive showing in the second half, stopping six of the Bruins' eight shots in the third quarter and five of seven in the fourth. Liebowitz scored her second goal of the game from the front court and Drake added her second of the contest from set. UCLA would take a 12-0 advantage into the final period.
The Spirit battled to a 2-2 tie in the fourth quarter. Skelly netted her second of the game from the front court and freshman Brooke Doten got into the scoring column with a strike from the front court to provide the 14-2 final.
UCLA returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 25, when it opens play at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich., where it will face No. 9 Pacific at 7:30 a.m. PT at the Canham Natatorium.
No. 2 UCLA vs. Ottawa University - Arizona (Game Five)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| OUAZ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| No. 2 UCLA | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
6x5 - UCLA - 0/0 - OUAZ - 0/5
Penalties - UCLA - 1/2 - OUAZ - 0/0
OUAZ Goals: Taylor Bacerra 1, Sydney Thomas 1
OUAZ Saves: n/a
UCLA Goals: Ava Johnson 3, Rachel Spadt 2, Lexi Liebowitz 2, Emily Skelly 2, Katrina Drake 2, Brooke Doten 1, Abbi Hill 1, Val Ayala 1
UCLA Saves: Georgia Phillips 8, Quinn Winter 3
