University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Friday, April 10
Berkeley, Calif.
12:45 PM (PT)
UCLA
20
vs
10
Indiana
Jojo Walters
Photo by: Catharyn Hayne
Women's Water Polo Beats Indiana in MPSF Tourney Opener
April 10, 2026 | Women's Water Polo
BERKELEY, Calif. โ The third-seeded UCLA women's water polo team punched its ticket into the MPSF Championship Tournament semifinal round with a 20-10 win against No. 6 seed Indiana Friday at Spieker Aquatics Complex. UCLA advances to face second-seeded Stanford, which beat No. 7 seed San Jose State 16-3 in the first quarterfinal, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. PT.
Four players logged hat tricks for the Bruins (19-3), who were paced by Bia Mantellato's four goals. Taylor Smith, Elektra Urbatsch and Jojo Walters logged three each for UCLA. Bruin goalkeepers Lauren Steele (eight saves) and Joey Niz (five) combined to knock down 13 Hoosier shots. IU (15-10) was led by Louisa Downes and Grace Klingler, who scored three times each. Jasmine Higgs had nine saves for the Hoosiers.
UCLA's Anna Pearson got scoring underway with 5:48 left in the opening quarter. Mantellato next capitalized on a six-on-five opportunity before Downes put IU on the scoreboard. Walters scored on a power play just past the midway point and Pearson followed with her second. Downes and Smith traded six-on-five conversions in the final three minutes and the Bruins led 5-2 after the first.
Urbatsch's initial goal came by way of a penalty shot 37 seconds into the next frame. The Hoosiers responded with back-to-back power-play scores before UCLA got another five-meter chance. This time it was Mantellato who found the back of the net. Katherine O'Dea of the Bruins notched an even-strength goal next. Both teams scored in the final minute, with Urbatsch capping the quarter she started with a goal. UCLA led 9-5 after two.
After Klingler struck at 7:23 of the third, the Bruins ran off five straight goals to take a 14-6 lead. Urbatsch completed her first three-goal game of the season to start the spree. Tali Stryker, Smith, Mantellato and Walters followed over the next 2:18. Downes' six-on-five goal with 30 seconds remaining made UCLA's lead 14-7 with eight minutes left.
Smith's third goal came one minute into the fourth. Bruins Jenna Human, Dania Innis and Ana Pieper added their names to the scorebook, Walters finished out her first hat trick of the year and Mantellato converted a last-second seven-on-six opportunity. IU scored on two six-on-five chances and a penalty shot.
No. 3 seed UCLA vs. No. 6 seed Indiana
6x5: Indiana โ 6/9, UCLA โ 5/10
Penalties: Indiana โ 2/2, UCLA โ 2/4
Indiana Goals: Louisa Downes 3, Grace Klingler 3, Olivia Harris 2, Gwyneth Le 1, Savannah Batchelor 1
Indiana Saves: Jasmine Higgs 9
UCLA Goals: Bia Mantellato 4, Taylor Smith 3, Elektra Urbatsch 3, Jojo Walters 3, Dania Innis 1, Jenna Human 1, Katherine O'Dea 1, Ana Pieper 1, Tali Stryker 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 8, Joey Niz 5
Four players logged hat tricks for the Bruins (19-3), who were paced by Bia Mantellato's four goals. Taylor Smith, Elektra Urbatsch and Jojo Walters logged three each for UCLA. Bruin goalkeepers Lauren Steele (eight saves) and Joey Niz (five) combined to knock down 13 Hoosier shots. IU (15-10) was led by Louisa Downes and Grace Klingler, who scored three times each. Jasmine Higgs had nine saves for the Hoosiers.
UCLA's Anna Pearson got scoring underway with 5:48 left in the opening quarter. Mantellato next capitalized on a six-on-five opportunity before Downes put IU on the scoreboard. Walters scored on a power play just past the midway point and Pearson followed with her second. Downes and Smith traded six-on-five conversions in the final three minutes and the Bruins led 5-2 after the first.
Urbatsch's initial goal came by way of a penalty shot 37 seconds into the next frame. The Hoosiers responded with back-to-back power-play scores before UCLA got another five-meter chance. This time it was Mantellato who found the back of the net. Katherine O'Dea of the Bruins notched an even-strength goal next. Both teams scored in the final minute, with Urbatsch capping the quarter she started with a goal. UCLA led 9-5 after two.
After Klingler struck at 7:23 of the third, the Bruins ran off five straight goals to take a 14-6 lead. Urbatsch completed her first three-goal game of the season to start the spree. Tali Stryker, Smith, Mantellato and Walters followed over the next 2:18. Downes' six-on-five goal with 30 seconds remaining made UCLA's lead 14-7 with eight minutes left.
Smith's third goal came one minute into the fourth. Bruins Jenna Human, Dania Innis and Ana Pieper added their names to the scorebook, Walters finished out her first hat trick of the year and Mantellato converted a last-second seven-on-six opportunity. IU scored on two six-on-five chances and a penalty shot.
No. 3 seed UCLA vs. No. 6 seed Indiana
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 6 Indiana | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 20 |
6x5: Indiana โ 6/9, UCLA โ 5/10
Penalties: Indiana โ 2/2, UCLA โ 2/4
Indiana Goals: Louisa Downes 3, Grace Klingler 3, Olivia Harris 2, Gwyneth Le 1, Savannah Batchelor 1
Indiana Saves: Jasmine Higgs 9
UCLA Goals: Bia Mantellato 4, Taylor Smith 3, Elektra Urbatsch 3, Jojo Walters 3, Dania Innis 1, Jenna Human 1, Katherine O'Dea 1, Ana Pieper 1, Tali Stryker 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 8, Joey Niz 5
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
CTR
/ Women's Water Polo
CTR
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
UTL
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
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