UCLA
4-0
Concordia University Irvine
0-3
No. 1 UCLA Crushes Concordia University Irvine, 29-4
January 31, 2025 | Women's Water Polo
LA JOLLA, Calif.ย โ No. 1 UCLA (4-0, 0-0 MPSF) opened its Triton Invitational title defense with a 29-4 win over Concordia University Irvine (0-3) on Friday afternoon at UC San Diego's Canyonview Aquatic Center. The 29 goals were the most scored by a Bruin women's water polo team in the Adam Wright era and the most since a 30-5 win at Pacific on Feb. 17, 2007.ย UCLA extended its winning streak to 30 straight games and improved to 3-0 against the Golden Eagles in the series history.
A total of 16 different Bruins scored against CUI, paced by hat tricks from senior Nicole Struss (ties career high), junior Anna Pearson, sophomore Elektra Urbatschย (career high), and freshman Tali Stryker (career high). Freshman Jenna Human led the Bruins in scoring with six total points (two goals and four assists).ย Four other Bruins scored multiple goals in the win, which included two scores each from juniors Lily Gess and Carly McMurray (ties career high), sophomore Becca Melanson, and freshman Maile Turner (career high, first two goals of her collegiate career).
Steele got the start in the cage and played all of the first half, tallying six saves and one assist, while allowing three goals. Sophomore Joey Niz played the second half in the cage, recording four stops, twoย steals, and one assist, while giving up one goal.
The Bruins jumped out to a 9-2 lead at the end of the first period and won the second period, 5-1, to build a 14-3 lead at the break. Another nine-goal quarter in the third gave the Bruins a 23-4 lead heading into the final stanza.ย UCLA won the fourth quarter, 6-0, to provide the 29-4 final.
Up Next: The Bruins will take on No. 14 UC San Diego in the quarterfinals of the Triton Invitational at 11:10 a.m. PT on Saturday, Feb. 1. The Tritons advanced after a thrilling sudden victory over No. 7 Arizona State, 16-15.
ย
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| CUI | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 9 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 29 |
6x5 -ย UCLA - 6/7 - CUI - 0/7
Penalties -ย UCLA - 3/3 - CUI - 0/0
CUI Goals:ย Hannah Edwards 3, Anna Tyukasz 1
CUI Saves:ย UCSD did not track
UCLA Goals:ย Elektra Urbatsch 3, Anna Pearson 3, Tali Stryker 3, Nicole Struss 3, Carly McMurray 2, Becca Melanson 2, Lily Gess 2, Maile Turner 2, Jenna Human 2, Olivia Ouellette 1, Bia Mantellato 1, Taylor Smith 1, Emma Lineback 1, Natasha Kieckhafer 1, Molly Renner 1, Jojo Walters 1
UCLA Saves:ย Lauren Steele 6, Joey Niz 4
ย
Team Stats
Anna Pearson
6:48
Hannah Edwards
6:26
Anna Pearson
6:05
Taylor Smith
5:37
Hannah Edwards
5:11
Elektra Urbatsch
4:46
Anna Pearson
3:39
Lily Gess
3:16
Bia Mantellato
2:28
Molly Renner
1:42
Tali Stryker
1:08
Tali Stryker
7:41
Emma Lineback
5:27
Maile Turner
4:38
Maile Turner
3:13
Hannah Edwards
1:20
Becca Melanson
0:26
Natasha Kieckhafer
7:16
Becca Melanson
5:35
Nicole Struss
4:54
Tali Stryker
4:11
Lily Gess
3:31
Elektra Urbatsch
2:51
Nicole Struss
2:05
Carly McMurray
1:30
Carly McMurray
0:10
Anna Tyukasz
0:01
Jojo Walters
7:12
Elektra Urbatsch
6:28
Nicole Struss
4:13
Jenna Human
2:30
Jenna Human
1:59
Olivia Ouellette
1:13
