#2 UCLA Women's Water Polo Hosts #6 UC Berkeley in a Battle of Unbeatens
The Bruins have had 13 days off since defeating UC Irvine, 13-9.

This morning, the #3 UCLA women’s water polo team returns to action after having the last thirteen days off when the Bruins host the #6 UC Berkeley Golden Bears. UCLA has opened the season with a pair of wins against Fresno State and UC Irvine. Today’s game is scheduled to begin at 11 am PT. While it will not be televised, today’s game will be live streamed.
Last Time Out
On Friday, February 26, the Bruins visited UC Irvine. UCLA never trailed in this game. Val Ayala got the Bruins on the board first with a goal just 19 seconds into the contest. The teams alternated goals for the remainder of the first quarter. UC Irvine tied it with 6:33 left, but Myrna Simmons retook the lead for the Bruins just 30 seconds later. After the Anteaters tied it again with 5:37 to go, Abbi Hill put UCLA up again 33 seconds later. But, again, UCI tied it with 4:37 remaining. Just 16 seconds later, the Bruins were back in front on a goal from Ava Johnson. UC Irvine’s final goal of the quarter came with 3:54 on the clock. Lexi Liebowitz scored the final goal of the quarter just 20 seconds later and UCLA had a 5-4 lead after one.
Hill got the Bruins their first two-goal lead of the game when she scored the first goal of the second quarter just 38 seconds into the period, but Irvine responded by scoring their only goal of the quarter 13 seconds later. Liebowitz put the Bruins up by two again with 5:33 left in the half. Malia Allen made it a three-goal lead when she scored the final goal of the first half with 3:11 to go. That gave UCLA an 8-5 lead at the break.
The teams resumed alternating goals in the third quarter. Hill got it going for the Bruins when she completed her hat trick a minute into the second half. UCI countered with a goal 20 seconds later. Things were quiet for the next four minutes until Hill added her fourth goal of the game for the Bruins with 2:20 to go. The Anteaters responded 43 seconds later, closing the gap back to three. With just 4 seconds left in the third, Allen picked up her second goal of the game to put UCLA ahead, 11-7.
The Bruins picked up fourth quarter insurance goals from Hill, her fifth of the game, and Anneliese Miller. All UC Irvine could muster in the fourth was a pair of goals in the last 1:34 to close the gap back to four and the final score was 13-9, UCLA.
UC Berkeley Golden Bears
While the UC Berkeley Golden Bears have opened the season with an undefeated 5-0 record, the Bruins will be the best team they have played so far. Until now, their toughest game was last Saturday against #9 UC Santa Barbara, which the Bears escaped from with an 11-10 win. They also needed overtime to win one of their two games against Fresno State.
Given that the Bears haven’t really played tough competition yet and that the Bruins are the home team today, I’m expecting a relatively easy UCLA win today.
#3 UCLA Women’s Water Polo (2-0)
Opponent: #6 UC Berkeley Golden Bears (5-0)
When: 11:00 am PT, Saturday, March 13, 2021
Where: Spieker Aquatics Center, Los Angeles, CA
Live Stream: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats: TheFosh.net
Go Bruins!!!
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