The UCLA women’s water polo team is stuck in the
matrix.
The No. 3 Bruins opened their weekend road trip by losing to No.
1 Stanford 5-3 on Friday ““ the ninth time in the past 11
games that the Cardinal (7-0, 2-0 MPSF) has been victorious against
UCLA.
The Bruins’ matches against the Cardinal are notorious for
tight defensive play and an outcome decided in the final minutes.
This time, Stanford scored three goals in an explosive second
period that propelled them to the win.
Senior goalkeeper Jaime Hipp credited the team’s second
period difficulties to small mistakes.
“We didn’t crash on (senior driver) Julie Gardner.
She is their best setter. Our help defense needed to be
better,” Hipp said.
In their previous meeting this season, the final score was 4-3
and Friday’s game seemed destined for the same outcome until
the Cardinal made it 5-3 with a penalty shot with six seconds left
in the game.
The two Bruin losses to the Cardinal have been decided by a
combined three goals. Due to the close matches, special teams play
a large part in the final outcome.
The Bruins did have their chances, converting only twice on the
power play in nine opportunities. They went scoreless in two power
plays in the final quarter.
“Coach (Adam Krikorian) always says that whoever wins the
six-on-five battles wins the game. We had a lot of power play
chances and didn’t put the ball away,” Hipp said.
Stanford once again displayed its depth ““ five different
players scored for the Cardinal.
UCLA’s junior center forward Natalie Golda scored twice
and freshman center defender Lauren Heineck scored once. It was
Heineck’s first collegiate goal and pulled the Bruins within
one with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter. However, the
Bruins went scoreless in the fourth. Stanford’s Jackie Frank
recorded 14 saves to Hipp’s eight.
“We had our chances”, said Golda.
“I was happy that we progressed from the week before, but
I am unhappy with the outcome,” she added.
UCLA (6-3, 3-2 MPSF) took out its frustrations on San Jose State
(9-6) Saturday, winning 10-3.
Senior captain and center defender Robin Beauregard scored 1:52
into the contest and the Bruins never looked back. They held a 7-0
lead until the Spartans found the back of the net with 36 seconds
left in the third quarter.
“We redeemed ourselves. We accomplished what we
didn’t get done in the Stanford game,” said Hipp.
Eight different players scored, led by senior center defenders
Devon McIntyre and Beauregard with two goals apiece.
UCLA will play Redlands University in the first game of the
Gaucho Invitational on Saturday.