The women’s water polo team could not have asked for a better opening to the 2007 MPSF conference season. With its unbending defense and powerful offense, UCLA has positioned itself as the best team in the nation in the early going this year and did nothing to disprove it this weekend in Northern California.
The No. 1 Bruins set two school records in Saturday’s game against the University of the Pacific in Stockton. The final score was 30-5, a new school record for the most goals scored in a single game.
The previous record, 22 goals, was set against Cal State Bakersfield and Occidental College. The 25-point margin is also a new school record for the team.
The Bruins wasted no time showing the Pacific Tigers that they were the dominant team.
They began their afternoon play in Stockton scoring the first eight goals of the match and ending the first period with a 10-2 lead.
By halftime the score was 17-4, and with a final series of 11 straight goals by UCLA, the game ended with a record-breaking score of 30-5 and upped UCLA’s record to 6-0.
UCLA’s only freshman, Melissa Mordell, also took the opportunity to put herself on the radar, scoring five goals in the game, tying the team record set by teammate Kelly Rulon.
Other UCLA top scorers were Jenna Murphy with 4 goals, Anne Belden, Tanya Gandy, Jillian Kraus and Kim Nelson with 3 goals apiece, and Kamaile Crowell, Gabrielle Domanic and Brittany Rowe with 2 goals each.
Sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Fullen saw plenty of time in the net, racking up a total of 5 saves against the Tigers.
UCLA ended the game outshooting Pacific 47-17.
Friday night’s victory against No. 4 California in Berkeley also turned out to be a game dominated by the Bruins as UCLA defeated the Bears 12-8.
The Bears began the game with an early lead in the first period, but two quick goals from Bruin senior Rulon and junior Courtney Mathewson quickly reminded the Bears which team had the control in the pool.
By halftime, the Bears had only managed to score two more goals to UCLA’s five, making the score 7-3.
Trading goals throughout the last two periods, UCLA beat Cal for the second time this season, with a final score of 12-8, dropping Cal’s record to 3-4.
The top scorers were Mathewson, Gandy and Rulon with two goals each.
Goalkeeper Emily Feher also shined with a total of 4 saves against the Bears.