UCLA Women’s Water Polo Returns to the OC for the Barbara Kalbus Invitational

Last Friday, the Bruins traveled down to Irvine looking to get back to their winning ways, but they probably didn’t envision their game against the Anteaters going to double overtime.

That’s what it took for UCLA to head home with the win.

Lizette Rozeboom got the Bruins on the board first, but UCI was able to tie it up less than a minute and a half later and it was 1-1 after the first quarter. The teams alternated goals again in the second quarter. Devin Grab broke the tie and, less than a minute later, Maddie Musselman broke it again, but, again, the Anteaters responded and the game was tied 3-3 at the half.

The third quarter was all-UCLA. Rozeboom added her second goal of the game on a power play 27 seconds into the half and Bronte Halligan would give UCLA a two-goal lead when she scored with 5:27 left in the quarter. Just 40 seconds later, Musselman gave the Bruins a three-goal lead with her second and the Bruins led 6-3 after three.

But, the Anteaters scored four straight goals in the fourth quarter to take a 7-6 lead with less than two minutes to go. Thankfully, Rozeboom found the net and completed her hat trick to tie the game again with 1:06 to go to send it to overtime.

Neither team scored in the first overtime, but Musselman scored in the second overtime to send the Bruins home with the win.

While that was closer than they would have liked, a tough game was probably better for the team heading into this weekend’s Barbara Kalbus Invitational, which is back down in Orange County.

Today, the Bruins start off the tournament against #17 UCSB. The Bruins defeated the Gauchos back on January 21 in the UCSB Winter Invitational by a score of 10-6. So, today’s game should be another tune-up for tomorrow’s games.


Go Bruins!!!