When Stanford, UCLA and USC clash in women’s water polo, there is always something at stake.
But there’s even more on the line as all three teams enter this weekend’s NCAA Tournament with an equal shot at the title in what is essentially a three-team race.
The No. 2 seed Bruins (25-2) are looking to speed to a third straight title, the 100th in UCLA history.
The NCAA Championships begin for UCLA today as the team faces D-III Pomona-Pitzer in Los Alamitos. Only three teams have ever won the NCAA title since the championship was created in 2001: UCLA, USC and Stanford, and this year should be no different. Stanford (25-2) has claimed the top overall seed and USC (20-5) is in the No. 3 spot.
“Whenever we play ‘SC or Stanford it’s a different game,” coach Adam Krikorian said. “The intensity and the speed are escalated tenfold, and that’s what makes those games fun and enjoyable to be a part of.”
UCLA enters the tournament following a victory at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference tournament, where it claimed its first win of the season over Stanford and its third against USC. Because the Cardinal beat the Bruins twice in the regular season they were able to hold onto the No. 1 seed. UCLA will almost certainly have to beat USC on Saturday and Stanford on Sunday to win the NCAA title.
“We’re ready,” Krikorian said. “We just gotta play. We have put in a lot of work and preparation over the course of the season, and when it comes to this weekend it’s just about playing with freedom.”
The experienced UCLA team will need championship-level performances from its top scorer Kelly Rulon and All-MPSF goalkeeper Emily Feher. The two seniors represent the foundation of the Bruin team: solid defense and a quick transition offense. It was this style that led to a 9-3 win against Stanford in the MPSF title game. Rulon scored four goals and Feher held the Cardinal to their lowest scoring output of the season.
But it’s been almost two weeks since that win in Tempe, Ariz., and the Bruins have grown anxious. The team has focused on the very different styles of USC and Stanford over the 10 days of practice to prepare for the NCAA Tournament.
“A lot of us are anxious and it’s really coming out in practice,” Courtney Mathewson said. “It’s a little more competitive each day and everyone gets a little angrier, a little faster. But we’re definitely ready to go.”
Krikorian has prepared his team to face two very different opponents this weekend.
USC likes to hunker down in the middle of the offensive zone, using sophomore Kami Craig to dominate the center area. The Trojans are very patient and methodical, using Craig and their perimeter shooters to break down opposing defenses.
Stanford, on the other hand, uses an offense similar to the motion offense in basketball. The Cardinal thrives on its speed and anticipation; everyone is constantly moving. The up-tempo offense forces defenses to locate every player.
“We have two teams with very different styles that we have to prepare for back-to-back,” junior defender Jillian Kraus said. “That’s what makes this tournament so special.”
The matchups are always close, physical and more intense defensively. All three of the Bruins’ victories over the Trojans have been by just one goal, and they’ll have to beat their crosstown rival a fourth time Saturday.
“Whether we beat them twice or once or never, it’s hard every time,” Krikorian said. “We know just because we’ve won three it’s not going to guarantee the fourth.”
If there’s one Bruin who has stepped up in the clutch, it’s Mathewson, who scored a winning goal against the Trojans this year as well as in last year’s NCAA title game. She has connected with Rulon in the transition attack to score in close games.
For the Bruins’ game plan, Krikorian wants to stick with a similar style: focusing on the transition offense. The combination of Feher’s long-range passing ability and the Bruins’ speed makes this transition attack tough to stop.
“For the most part our style will remain the same,” Krikorian said. “We’ll tweak some things here and there to combat the opponent’s strengths or weaknesses.
“This team’s foundation is going to be its defense and ability to get stops, and ultimately that creates opportunities on the counterattack. I think we are one of the fastest teams if not the fastest in the country.”
If the Bruins can ride their defense and counterattack to a victory Sunday, they’ll be the owners of the school’s 100th national championship, and the first 3-peat champions ever in NCAA women’s water polo.