UCLA
10-1
UC Irvine
4-6
No. 3 UCLA Doubles Up No. 6 UC Irvine, 16-8
February 22, 2025 | Women's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. โ No. 3 UCLA (10-1, 1-0 MPSF) led wire-to-wire in a 16-8 thrashing at No. 6 UC Irvine (4-6, 0-0 Big West) in the quarterfinals of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at Anteater Aquatics Complex on Saturday afternoon. With their 39th consecutive win over the Anteaters, the Bruinsย improved to 39-0 in the series history.
A total of nineย different Bruins scored against the Anteaters, paced by a season-high four goals from junior Taylor Smith. She finished with a game-high five total points, adding one assist against UC Irvine. Junior Anna Pearson contributed a hat trick and juniorย transfer Bia Mantellatoย and junior Lily Gess tied her season high with two goals against the Anteaters.
Sophomore Lauren Steele got the start in the cage and went the distance, registering a season-high-tying 14 saves (also against UC Irvine on Feb. 1) to go with two steals and an assist while allowing eight goals.
Last week, the Bruins trailed 7-4 at the end of the first period. But that was last week, as UCLA jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period. The Bruins won the second period, 6-4, to build a 9-4 lead at the break Both teams drew to a 3-3 tie in the third with UCLA heading into theย fourth with 12-7 advantage. The Bruins won the fourth period, 4-1, to provide the 16-8 final.
UP NEXT:ย
The Bruins advance to tonight's semifinals where they will face No. 1 Stanford (9-0, 0-0 MPSF) at 5:20 p.m. at UC Irvine's Anteaterย Aquatics Complex.
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| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 3 UCLA | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 16 |
| No. 6ย UC Irvine | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
6x5 -ย UCLA - 8/12 - UCI - 4/12
Penalties -ย UCLA - 1/1 - UCI - 1/1
UCLA Goals:ย Taylor Smith 4, Anna Pearson 3, Bia Mantellato 2, Lily Gess 2, Emma Lineback 1, Molly Renner 1, Jojo Walters 1, Jenna Human 1, Tali Stryker 1
UCLA Saves:ย Lauren Steele 14
UCI Goals:ย Lauren Hett 2, Brooke Hourigan 1, Libby Alexander 1, Nioka Thomas 1, Madi O'Hara 1, Gracie Helberg 1, Deirdre Murphy 1
UCI Saves:ย Rachel Kirchner 4, Ella Walker 0
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Team Stats
Taylor Smith
7:41
Taylor Smith
6:24
Bia Mantellato
3:52
Anna Pearson
7:48
Libby Alexander
7:31
Lily Gess
7:10
Anna Pearson
6:11
Lauren Hett
3:02
Emma Lineback
2:44
Nioka Thomas
1:58
Molly Renner
1:34
Taylor Smith
0:23
Madi O'Hara
0:01
Gracie Helberg
7:35
Jojo Walters
5:47
Tali Stryker
4:23
Bia Mantellato
3:12
Lauren Hett
2:43
Brooke Hourigan
2:05
Anna Pearson
6:04
Deirdre Murphy
5:33
Taylor Smith
5:03
Lily Gess
1:55
Jenna Human
0:40
