Monday, 5/12/97 Bruins return again as Collegiate Champions
Strong defense allows UCLA to secure second title win
By Vytas Mazeika Daily Bruin Contributor Few teams are capable
of winning one national championship, and even fewer can
successfully defend their title. With a 6-3 victory over rival Cal
on Sunday, the UCLA women’s water polo team can lay claim to having
done both. The Bruins (31-1) repeated as Collegiate Champions just
as their counterparts – the UCLA men’s water polo team – did
earlier this fall. The game was closely contested most of the way
until the Bruins finally pulled away in the fourth quarter – a
notoriously lackluster quarter for the Bruins most of the season.
"I thought we handled the fourth quarter stupendously," Baker said.
Coralie Simmons, the Bruins leading scorer who notched two goals in
the final; and goalie Nicolle Payne, who allowed only seven goals
over the course of the tournament, were both named as First Team
All-Tournament selections. The talented Bruins provide a
well-balanced attack that saw four players score, but it was their
defense that allowed the Bruins to dominate the Collegiate
Tournament at Ann Arbor, with most valuable goalie Payne leading
the way. "This year we had to deal with high expectations," an
excited head coach Guy Baker said. "I think they handled it very
well."