#3 UCLA Women’s Water Polo Edged in Kalbus Semi by #2 Southern Cal, 10-9

In last Friday’s home opener, the UCLA Women’s Water Polo team topped UC Irvine 16-1. Yesterday morning, the Bruins beat host UCI again by the same score in the quarterfinal of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.

Alys Williams scored the first goal of the game 18 seconds in en route to a hat trick for the Bruins while Lizette Rozeboom, Nicole Reynolds, Alexis Angermund and Bronte Halligan each added two goals. Alexa Tielmann, Devin Grab, Mackenzie Barr, Sarah Sheldon, and Maddie Musselmann each scored a goal as well.

That win advanced the Bruins to the tournament semifinal against crosstown rival #2 Southern Cal. Unlike UCLA’s other recent games, the Bruins didn’t score off the opening sprint. In fact, they didn’t even score first.

Southern Cal was able to score twice before UCLA got on the scoreboard when Bronte Halligan scored the Bruins’ first goal with 5:01 left to go in the first quarter. Halligan tied the game 2-2 a few minutes later.

Williams gave the Bruins their first and only lead of the game at the start of the second quarter. But, the Trojans would score 4 of the next 6 goals to take a 6-5 lead at the half.

Williams tied the game with her third goal of the game in the first minute of the third, but Southern Cal’s Hayley McKelvey would score the next two goals to give the Trojans the lead for good. Down 10-7 late in the game, UCLA mounted a comeback attempt by scoring two goals to make it 10-9, but they couldn’t get the game-tying goal before time ran out.

The Bruins will wrap up play today in the 3rd place game against #4 UC Berkeley at 11:30 am.

#3 UCLA Bruins (10-1)

Opponent: #4 UC Berkeley Golden Bears (11-2)

When: Sunday, February 25, 2017, 11:30 am PT

Where: UC Irvine Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA

TV, Stream, Radio/Audio, Live Stats: None


This is your UCLA vs. UC Berkeley Women’s Water Polo open thread.


Go Bruins!!!