Halfway through the final game of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship tournament, it looked like the No. 2 UCLA women’s water polo team was going to be able to pull off an upset over No. 1 Stanford.
The Bruins (26-3, 5-1 MPSF) had already knocked off the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners in the first round of the tournament and the No. 4 Arizona State Sun Devils in the semifinals, earning them a berth in Sunday afternoon’s championship match – their fourth consecutive game at USC’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center. But ultimately, the Bruins fell to the Cardinal 6-5.
UCLA went goal-for-goal with Stanford in the first period of Sunday’s game, and held the Cardinal scoreless in the second period, while junior attacker Emily Donohoe and senior utility Becca Dorst scored to put the Bruins up 5-3 at halftime.
Then, Stanford started coming back, holding UCLA scoreless in the third quarter while Annika Dries of Stanford brought the game within one before Stanford earned a penalty shot to tie the game. A single goal from the Cardinal was the only scoring of the fourth quarter, but it was enough to seal the game – and Stanford’s first MPSF title since 2006.
“I think Stanford did a good job of limiting our opportunities in the second half, and we also missed some opportunities in the second half,” said coach Brandon Brooks. “It was just two really good teams playing each other.”
The statistics from the game back up both those points: UCLA only managed nine shots on goal, with Stanford goalie Gabby Stone deflecting four. Meanwhile, UCLA redshirt junior goalkeeper Sami Hill hit her season average of 10 goals in the game. Only Stanford’s Maggie Steffens was able to score more than once, for two goals.
Dorst looked toward the bright side after her last MPSF tournament.
“We are obviously disappointed (but) we are not shaken,” Dorst said. “We are totally excited for the next two weeks. Being a senior, I’m so excited for the place that we are (in) now.”
Despite the defeat, UCLA will almost certainly receive a bid to the NCAA tournament, which will take place starting May 9, again at USC. Brooks predicts the team will be the second seed, which seems likely since current No. 3 USC lost to Arizona State in the first round of this weekend’s tournament. Up to five teams from the MPSF may make the 12-team NCAA tournament, Brooks said.
Donohoe said that the team will now focus on the coming tournament.
“Obviously the (Stanford) game didn’t have the same result that we wanted, so we just kind of dig ourselves up from that, and in the couple weeks ’til NCAA, we go out and continue to improve,” Donohoe said.
Brooks, too, seemed optimistic after the loss, stressing the strength of both teams.
“That’s ultimately why we play sports, for a game like that,” Brooks said. “I love these girls and they played their hearts out this weekend.”