University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Arizona State
No. 3 UCLA Advances to Triton Invitational Championship Game
January 31, 2026 | Women's Water Polo
LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 3 UCLA (5-0, 0-0 MPSF) advanced to the title game of the Triton Invitational with a 15-8 win over No. 6 Arizona State on Saturday morning and a 14-5 win over No. 5 Hawai'i in the evening at Canyonview Aquatic Center on the campus of UC San Diego. The Bruins, who have already beaten four teams ranked in the top 10, improved to 36-2 in the series history against Arizona State and 60-4 against the Rainbow Wahine.
In the morning game against the Sun Devils (7-1), a total of seven different Bruins scored, paced by a career-high six goals from senior Taylor Smith. Senior Anna Pearson was the only other Bruin to score multiple goals, finishing with a hat trick and one steal while drawing three exclusions and one penalty.
Junior Lauren Steele got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying 11 saves and two steals while surrendering eight goals.
The Bruins trailed 4-3 at the end of the first period, but won the second, 4-1, to take a 7-5 lead into the break. UCLA won the third period, 3-2, to stretch the lead to 10-7 heading into the final stanza. UCLA would dominate the fourth period, 5-1, to provide the 15-8 final.
In the nightcap against UH (4-2), a total eight Bruins found the back of the net, led by Hawai'i transfer Bia Mantellato's season-high four goals. Three other Bruins scored multiple goals against the Rainbow Wahine with freshman Katherine O'Dea, senior Genoa Rossi, and redshirt senior Emma Lineback each scoring twice.
Steele got the start again and played the first three quarters, registering seven saves and a steal while giving up just two goals. Junior Joey Niz played the fourth quarter and tallied four saves and a steal while allowing three scores.
UP NEXT:
The Bruins will face No. 2 USC (8-0) in the Championship game on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 10:40 a.m. PT at Canyonview Aquatic Center.
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 6 Arizona State | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
6x5 - UCLA - 3/5 - ASU - 2/9
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - ASU - 1/2
ASU Goals: Millie Quin 2, Itziar Almeda 2, Maci Magee 2, Laura Kardos 1, Sophie Shorter-Robinson 1
ASU Saves: UC San Diego did not provide goalie statistics
UCLA Goals: Taylor Smith 6, Anna Pearson 3, Dania Innis 1, Elektra Urbatsch 1, Emma Lineback 1, Genoa Rossi 1, Jenna Human 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 11
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 5 Hawai'i | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 14 |
6x5 - UCLA - 2/5 - UH - 0/4
Penalties - UCLA - 0/1 - UH - 2/3
UH Goals: Roni Perlman 1, Camille Radosavljevic 1, Sienna Walker 1, Olivia Slavens 1, Agatha Weston 1
UH Saves: Daisy Logtens 6
UCLA Goals: Bia Mantellato 4, Katherine O'Dea 2, Emma Lineback 2, Genoa Rossi 2, Carly McMurray 1, Taylor Smith 1, Alison Sagara 1, Tali Stryker 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 7, Joey Niz 4
