The UCLA men’s water polo team streaked into this
weekend’s games seeking revenge against the team it had last
lost to nearly a month ago.
The Bruins did more than just avenge.
They swatted Cal 10-6 at Berkeley on Saturday, erasing any doubt
that they are deserving of their No. 1 ranking.
“This victory keeps us up there with Stanford and
‘SC,” coach Adam Krikorian said. “It keeps our
confidence up and helps us sustain momentum.”
The outset of the game was turbulent for UCLA (15-2, 2-0 MPSF)
as No. 4 Cal began the first period with three consecutive goals.
Though the Bruins comprise an experienced team, nerves and the
atmosphere may have had something to do with their first quarter
play.
“It was an electrifying atmosphere,” Krikorian said.
“Because of the football game, there were more people there
than usual and their aquatic center has walls around it, so the
crowd noises were echoing.
“We may have been just a tad nervous and tight.”
After Krikorian settled the team down during the break between
the first and second quarters, the Bruins embarked on a 9-1 run,
sparked by senior attacker Albert Garcia’s two goals in the
second quarter.
The Bears were shutout in the second quarter and did not score
again until late in the third quarter. Cal tallied two more goals
in the final period, but the game was already out of reach in large
part because of the Bruins’ strong defensive play.
“We played very smart perimeter defense,” Krikorian
said.
“I know it’s a cliche, but it was a team effort.
Everyone played pretty well.”
The defense was lead by senior goalie Joe Axelrad, who had a
total of nine saves on the day. But Axelrad was still critical of
his play despite holding Cal to only six goals.
“I was pretty disappointed with the way I played at the
outset,” Axelrad said. “My nerves might have been a
little rattled.
“Though I wasn’t happy with the way I played, we won
and that’s all that matters.”
The Bruins continued to roll after the Cal game on Sunday with a
12-4 victory over No. 15 Pacific and a 7-5 victory over No. 14 UC
Davis.
Though the disparaging goal differential was expected in the
Pacific game, the match against Davis was the closest a team can
come to a disappointing victory.
“That was our worst performance of the year,”
Krikorian said. “I don’t know if we were mentally or
physically ready, or if we were just tired after [the earlier game
against Pacific].”
The conditions for the game were not the best.
Cold, rainy and windy throughout the game, the Bruins still
toughed it out and were able to extend their winning streak to 10
games.
Senior attacker Brett Ormsby led all scorers during the road
trip with nine goals.
The three victories, despite the hair-raising experience at
Davis, should keep the Bruins atop the national rankings as the
country’s No. 1 team.
“With these victories, we’re just looking to sustain
our momentum and ultimately earn the No. 1 seed in the conference
tournament,” Krikorian said.