Possibly the greatest women’s water polo team ever was
assembled in the pool this past season. There’s never been
more hype surrounding a team as the Bruins were filled by four
Olympians and projected to be wire-to-wire favorites.
UCLA definitely lived up to that billing in style by completing
an undefeated season.
Most of the time the Bruins washed their opponents out of the
pool, showcasing their dominance. Occasionally their opponents kept
the score competitive, but always succumbed to UCLA’s
talented roster.
It wasn’t until the NCAA Championships in Ann Arbor,
Mich., when the Bruins were finally tested.
In its final two games of the season, UCLA pulled out a one goal
victory both in the semifinal match against Hawai’i and the
title game versus Stanford, winning its third national title in
five years.
“He just kept emphasizing we haven’t won anything
yet,” sophomore goalie Emily Feher said. “Coach
Krikorian told us if a team has a lot of potential it still means
you haven’t done (anything). That was our motto.”
“He kept us grounded and he made us believe that
everything that was said was not true.”
While it may have seemed the Bruins were going to coast to a
title this season, one of the more trying moments this season was
in the beginning of the year. Nearly half of the team consisted of
freshmen while senior Natalie Golda, junior Thalia Munro and
sophomore Kelly Rulon returned to UCLA after capturing the bronze
medal in the 2004 Olympics. In hopes of bringing the team together,
Krikorian looked to his veterans.
“(Adam) spoke with us individually,” said Golda, who
was the captain of this year’s squad. “He wanted us to
be leaders and lead by example and help the younger girls, and we
did that and we came out on top.”
The only question that remains for the program is whether or not
they’ll be able to repeat a similarly dominant performance.
With only two players graduating, and the only major loss being
Golda, UCLA will likely position itself once again for a title
run.
Compiled by Bryan Chu, Bruin Sports senior staff.