Coming off a 10-game win streak and a thrilling one-point victory over USC last Saturday, the UCLA women’s water polo team is looking to repeat history.
In a game that exemplified a classic, brutal battle between the two rivals, the Bruins (20-1, 9-0 MSPF) showed why they are ranked No. 2 in the country. Last year, the Bruins defeated the Trojans 9-8 in the national championship game, winning the 99th NCAA team title for UCLA. After a 2006-2007 season that is shaping up to be unusually dry in respect to national championships for the rest of UCLA athletics, many are looking to this team as the one that goes down in school history.
While coach Adam Krikorian no doubt wants nothing else but to win championships, he said the pressure of winning No. 100 is not as important to the success of the team as the memories and experiences that come with the win.
“What we’re embarking on as an athletic department in terms of the “˜Number 100′ is a really special thing,” Krikorian said. “It’s a tribute to the fine coaches and athletes and administrators in our athletic department. But … in the end, it’s just a number. Winning a championship, and we’ve been fortunate enough to win a few, and creating a close bond with players and coaches is more special than any number will ever be.”
With the last home game of the season, Krikorian celebrated the success of the seniors, who have seen three national championships, but made it clear that the team was moving on from the bittersweet departure from Sunset Canyon Recreation Center and fixing its laser focus on the remaining games of the season.
“There’s no time to get sad,” Krikorian said. “In the couple minutes before the ‘SC game there was time to reflect for a second. This team is as competitive and as focused as any team I’ve ever coached, and a lot of that is attributed to the seniors and the leadership role they’ve played with the team. They’re phenomenal; it’s a very special group.”
The memories of the last home game will be especially sweet for the seniors. Beating USC has always been reason enough to get fiery competition, but the extraordinary fan support also fanned the flames. With the band playing among a crowd filled with family, friends and members of the men’s basketball team, 8-claps and ‘SC jeers provided an environment for the Bruins that “had a big impact on the game,” according to Krikorian.
“There’s an extra sense of pride that comes with playing when you have great support like that,” Krikorian said. “(The seniors) will keep this memory with them forever, at their last home game, beating ‘SC in front of a great home crowd.”
Senior goalkeeper Emily Feher made seven out of her 10 crucial saves in the second half, including a crowd-pleasing cross-cage reach with a minute left to go in the game, keeping the Bruins’ one-point lead intact. While the Bruin defense was consistent, save a couple unbelievable Trojan shots, the offense certainly was not lacking its share of exciting plays, including a goal by junior Courtney Mathewson that was executed after an impressive over-the-shoulder catch.
Facing No. 1 ranked Stanford (19-1, 8-0 MSPF) on Saturday, the team that handed them their only loss of the season, the Bruins will be tested on their championship readiness.
“This could be the most difficult game of the year for us,” Krikorian said. “But we’re excited for the challenge.”