clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

UCLA Women’s Water Polo Loses NCAA Semifinal to Southern Cal, 10-6

Three consecutive first quarter goals by Southern Cal drowned the Bruins’ title hopes.

By Joe Piechowski
Senior Devin Grab scored two goals in a losing effort in her final game as a Bruin.
@UCLAWaterPolo

The season is over for the UCLA Women’s Water Polo team, who lost today in the NCAA Semifinal to Southern Cal by a score of 10-6.

After the first two minutes of the game were scoreless, Southern Cal’s Brianna Daboub got the Trojans on the board first.

Devin Grab tied it at 1-1 just over a minute later. Unfortunately, that was as close as UCLA got to winning today’s game.

With 2:56 left in the first, the Trojans went on a 3-goal scoring spree that put them ahead for good.

Grab scored her second goal of the quarter with 57 seconds remaining, but Dahboub responded 33 seconds later and Southern Cal led 5-2 after the first quarter.

The Trojans held UCLA scoreless in the second quarter while adding two more goals including the eventual game-winner by Paige Hauschild with 32 secsonds left in the half as Southern Cal took a 7-2 lead into the break.

Dahboub scored her third goal for the Trojans early in the third quarter to complete her hat trick while Southern Cal continue to hold the Bruins scoreless.

Finally, Bronte Halligan broke through and ended a nearly-thirteen minute drought for the Bruins to make it 8-3 with 4:07 left in the third. Lizette Rozeboom shrunk Southern Cal’s lead to four with 1:47 to go in the third and the quarter ended with the Trojans up 8-4.

Hauschild completed her hat trick with 6:19 to go before Alexis Angermund scored twice for UCLA at the 4:21 mark and the 0:19 mark, but it was too little, too late for the Bruins.

Southern Cal added one final goal with 2 seconds left and the final was 10-6, Trojans.

Unfortunately, the Bruins just weren’t a strong enough team this season, despite being ranked highly all year. Some might say that UCLA’s roster is filled with young players, but that really isn’t an excuse. This team couldn’t win the big games this year.

They finish a dismal 1-8 against Southern Cal, Stanford and UC Berkeley after making it to the championship game last season.

Adam Wright clearly has some work to do between now and next season to “Wright the ship” that is UCLA Women’s Water Polo.


Go Bruins.

More From Bruins Nation