Not much has changed so far between this season and last
year’s championship run for the UCLA women’s water polo
team. In their opening weekend, the Bruins picked up right where
they left off at the NCAA championships last spring. That is,
without losing a single match.
This past weekend, the top-ranked Bruins thrashed three
opponents, Cal State Bakersfield, No. 18 Cal State Northridge and
No. 10 UC Santa Barbara by an aggregate score of 52-13.
“It was a physical game against Santa Barbara and it will
help us get prepared for this weekend in Stanford,” said
junior goalkeeper Emily Feher after their 10-7 defeat over the
Gauchos. “It was competitive.”
The Bruins now extend their current winning streak to 36 wins,
which has elapsed since the last season.
On Friday, the Bruins played Cal State Bakersfield in the
opening round and defeated the Roadrunners 22-4. The 22 goals
scored against the Roadrunners was the second highest goal total in
any UCLA women’s water polo game.
Last season, the Bruins netted 22 goals against Colorado State.
Then-junior driver Kelly Rulon scored five goals in the victory.
Thirteen Bruins scored at least one goal in the competition.
In second game that day, UCLA held Cal State Northridge
scoreless for two periods. The Bruins held an 11-1 half time lead
and easily dispatched the Matadors, 20-2. Senior driver Thalia
Munro paced the Bruins with four goals followed by sophomore driver
Jillian Kraus with three.
The Matador’s Allison Brookes scored Cal State
Northridge’s only goals in the match.
The Bruins will be off until Saturday when they head off to Palo
Alto to compete in the Stanford Invitational. UCLA won the
tournament last season.