Facing arch rival Stanford on the road in what may have been his
team’s last formidable test before the postseason, UCLA
women’s water polo coach Adam Krikorian knew Friday
night’s game would be hotly contested.
He knew the game was going to be physical and at times tempers
would definitely flair.
But little did he know that he wouldn’t be around to see
his top-ranked Bruins (26-0, 11-0 MPSF) hang on for a 7-5 victory
over the third-ranked Cardinal.
With the Bruins leading 5-1 with 2:03 remaining in the second
period, Krikorian exploded after an ejection was called on freshman
driver Jillian Kraus, receiving a yellow card. Seconds later the
seventh-year coach was issued a red card after voicing a few words
to the officials, who then removed Krikorian for the remainder of
the match.
Although Krikorian was dumbfounded by the red card, he was proud
at the way his team maintained its composure.
“I was very disturbed and upset at the card,”
Krikorian said. “I understood the yellow card, but the red
card I just don’t understand. I’ve gotten red cards
before and I’ve felt I deserved it, but this certainly was
not the case. I tried to ask the referee after the game, but he
didn’t say what happened.
“Even though I think the team was a little shaken up at
first, the thing with this team is that they’re prepared to
play successfully and execute whether I’m on the bench or not
on the bench. Once we get into the game we let instincts take
over.”
With Krikorian no longer at the helm, assistant coach Nicolle
Payne and the veterans on the team took over and were able to keep
their undefeated record in tact.
Once again it was UCLA’s early offense that put the game
out of reach for Stanford (16-5, 7-3). Capitalizing on their
man-advantage opportunities in the first period, Bruin freshman
Gabrielle Domanic, sophomore Kelly Rulon, who finished with a
team-high three goals, and junior Thalia Munro ignited UCLA to a
4-0 lead.
“We had such an amazing first quarter,” said Munro,
who registered two goals in the victory. “We went at Stanford
so quickly with everything we had.”
“We really put them back on their heels,” senior
Natalie Golda added. “It was a pretty big statement against a
team that has a pretty low goals-against average.”
Nevertheless, Stanford came storming back to make a game of it.
Krikorian noted that his team was playing passively in order to
protect its lead, thus enabling Cardinal sophomore standout
Christina Hewko to rattle off three straight goals. The Cardinal
trimmed the Bruins’ lead to 6-4 after Stanford junior Scotti
Shafer scored in the fourth period, but it would not get any
closer.
“Teams are out to get us and teams are out to get
Adam,” Golda said. “I thought the (red card) was a
little ridiculous, but it goes to show he prepares us well and that
we can still go out and win a game like that. It goes to show a lot
about our team.”
The Bruins did not appear to be sapped after their emotional
victory on Friday, registering an 8-3 win over No. 10 San Jose
State on Saturday.