The UCLA women’s water polo team ended a tough week on a high note with a 21-8 victory over UCSB Sunday at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. Senior Kelly Rulon scored her 200th career goal, and her sister, sophomore Katie Rulon, scored five goals, tying a single-game record.
“It’s a tribute to Kelly; she’s a phenomenal player and one of the greatest to play college water polo,” coach Adam Krikorian said. “And it is fitting for Katie to share the record for most goals scored with her sister and Melissa Mordell. I’m happy for her.”
The win moved the No. 2-ranked Bruins to 15-1, but they were hardly distracted in celebration.
“We need to do a better job defensively, all around, every single person. We just didn’t put in the effort today,” Krikorian said.
UCLA cruised to a 19-3 lead after three quarters. The Gauchos had no answers for the Bruins’ potent transition offense; senior Molly Cahill scored four times and junior Brittany Rowe added three. The Bruin defense also held strong in several six-on-five situations. But in the fourth quarter the grueling week of training and travel showed, as UCSB scored five times.
“We were definitely tired. We had a rough week of practice, traveling is always tiring, and it was hot. But that’s no excuse. The mistakes we made were lackadaisical, it wasn’t physical preparation that hurt us,” Kelly Rulon said.
Krikorian went to the bench in the end, worrying about the fatigue of his starters. It was during that four-minute stretch of the final quarter that UCSB penetrated the UCLA defense.
“I was a little disappointed with how they played in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, that’s their chance to get in and show what they can do. I know they can play much better,” he said.
The game Sunday was UCLA’s second of the weekend, having won Saturday at No. 10 Arizona State 15-9. The game was closely contested and sealed only by a third quarter in which the Bruins outscored the Sun Devils 6-0.
“We certainly didn’t play too hot … we didn’t do a good job defensively,” Krikorian said. “The third quarter really was the difference in the game.”
A key emphasis for the Bruins after the weekend is their set offense. Most of their goals came on the counter-attack; they sped past the retreating Gaucho defense to score easy goals on the break. The half-court offense was less potent.
“We really need to focus on our half-court offense, our counter-attack is so strong so that it is what we rely on. But if we can’t score a counter-attack goal we have a hard time setting up our half-court and scoring through that,” Kelly Rulon said. “Overall we need to be more consistent.”
The Bruins have four more games to prepare before a stretch against No. 3 USC and No. 1 Stanford. Next up is Long Beach State on Thursday at home. As the season continues and the postseason approaches, the team is concerned not with the individual accomplishments, but improving as a unit.
“We have a lot to work on as a team. I’m happy as long we play well together.” Katie Rulon said.