UCLA
17-0
UC San Diego
8-5
No. 1 UCLA Crushes No. 11 UC San Diego, 15-7
February 25, 2022 | Women's Water Polo
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IRVINE, Calif. --ย No. 1 UCLA (17-0) used a strong first half to defeat No. 11 UC San Diego (8-5) for the third time this season, winning 15-7 on Friday afternoonย in the secondย game of the Kalbus Cup at UC Irvine's Anteater Aquatics Complex. The Bruins improved to 34-3 all-time against the Tritons. UCLA has the longest active winning streak in the nation at 17 games.
The Bruins were led by freshman Nicole Struss who scored a hat trick. Junior Hannah Palmer led all scorers with five points (two goals, three assists) with senior Maddie Musselman right behind with four points (one goal, three assists). Joining Struss with three points was freshman Emma Lineback (two goals, one assist).
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Georgia Phillips got the start in the cage and played the first half, registering nineย saves while allowing just one goal. Sophomore Sydney Chiang played the second half, tallying four saves while surrendering six goals.
Lauren Bellavia led the Tritons with two goals.
PERIOD ONE
> UCLA outscored UC San Diego 4-0ย in the opening period.
> Senior Ava Johnson got things started with a goal from two meters (4:02).
> Palmer scored on a counterย (3:30) to make it 2-0.
> Struss scored her first of the game at two meters (2:40) to push the lead to 3-0.
> Musselman ended the scoring in the first frame with a power play goal (1:32).
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PERIOD TWO
> The Bruins easily won the second period, 6-1.
> Senior Val Ayala opened the scoring in the second period (7:43) with a strike from the front court.
> Struss added her second on a power play (7:14), followed by a goal from two meters by junior Abbi Hill (5:33) to put UCLA up 7-0.
> After a goal by the Tritons (5:13),ย Struss completed her hat trick with another score from two meters (5:02).
> Palmer scored her second from the front court (4:31) and freshman Molly Renner ended the scoring in the period with a strike from the front court (2:07).
> UCLA led 10-1 at the break.
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PERIOD THREE
> The Bruins outscored UC San Diego inย the third period, 4-2.
> Lineback (7:30) and senior Katrina Drake (6:09) scored back-to-back power play goals to extend the lead to 12-1.
> Senior Bella Baia had a nice drive and finish (2:04) to put the Bruins up 13-1.
> After a goal by UCSD (1:30), redshirt sophomore Alex Peros converted on a penalty shot drawn by freshman Grace Myers (1:07).
> Maggie Briaย scored from two meters for the Tritons (0:32) to end the scoring in the period with UCLA taking a 14-3 advantage into the final frame.
PERIOD FOUR
> UC San Diego won the fourth period, 4-1, to provide the 15-7 final score.
> After three straight goals by the Tritons (7:34, 6:14, and 4:00), Lineback added her second goal from the front court (1:12) to make it 15-6.
> Bellaviaย scored the final goal on a power play (0:40) for UCSD.
UP NEXT
The Bruins will face the winner from Group D, which includes LMU, Hawai'i, Indiana, and Michigan, in the first semifinals of the Kalbus Cup tomorrow (Feb. 26) at 2:45ย p.m. PT.
No. 11 UC San Diego vs. No. 1 UCLA (Kalbus Cup - Game Two)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 11 UCSD | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 15 |
6x5 -ย UCLA - 4/6 - UCSD - 2/6
Penalties -ย UCLA - 1/1 - UCSD - 0/1
UCSD Goals:ย Lauren Bellavia 2, Ciara Frankeย 1, Lucia Doakย 1, Courtney Okumura 1,ย Annika Arroyo 1,ย Maggie Briaย 1
UCSD Saves:ย Bennett Bugelliย 6
UCLA Goals: Nicole Struss 3, Hannah Palmer 2,ย Emma Linebackย 2, Abbi Hill 1, Maddie Musselmanย 1, Bella Baia 1, Alex Peros 1, Val Ayala 1, Ava Johnson 1, Molly Renner 1, Katrina Drake 1
UCLA Saves:ย Georgia Phillips 9, Sydney Chiang 4
Team Stats
Ava Johnson
4:02
Hannah Palmer
3:30
Nicole Struss
2:40
Maddie Musselman
1:32
Val Ayala
7:43
Nicole Struss
7:14
Abbi Hill
5:33
Annika Arroyo
5:13
Nicole Struss
5:02
Hannah Palmer
4:31
Molly Renner
2:07
Emma Lineback
7:30
Katrina Drake
6:09
Bella Baia
2:04
Lucia Doak
1:30
Alex Peros
1:07
Maggie Bria
0:32
Ciara Franke
7:34
Courtney Okumura
6:41
Lauren Bellavia
4:00
Emma Lineback
1:12
Lauren Bellavia
0:40
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
