SAN DIEGO “”mdash; UCLA came to San Diego hopeful and ready to win a sixth straight national championship.
The Bruins’ run was cut short earlier than anyone could have expected.
No. 6 seed Loyola Marymount, the automatic qualifier from the Western Water Polo Association, took down the No. 3 seed Bruins 5-4 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship.
LMU was led by the stellar play of goalkeeper Kristine Cato. The redshirt freshman transfer from USC smothered several easy opportunities for the Bruins on her way to 11 saves.
UCLA got the scoring started early with a goal from junior center Grace Reynolds 23 seconds into the match, and took a 3-2 lead at the end of the first on sophomore utility KK Clark’s counterattack goal.
That’s when the Lions’ defense, led by Cato, turned it up. Clark’s goal was the last time UCLA would find the back of the net until the fourth quarter.
A penalty shot by junior defender Daisy Carillo and a long-range goal from junior defender Mary Ann Campos gave the Lions their first lead at 4-3, which they would not give up for the rest of the game.
UCLA was limited by the foul trouble of Clark and Reynolds, who both got their second fouls midway through the second quarter and didn’t return to the game until LMU had gone ahead 5-3.
The win for the Lions and first-year coach Kyle Witt marked the first time LMU has ever beaten UCLA in 16 tries, including an 8-4 win by the Bruins on April 8.
LMU advances to play No. 2 seed USC, which won 20-5 over No. 7 seed Marist earlier today in the semifinals. UCLA will play Marist in the consolation bracket Saturday.