The UCI Women’s Water Polo team (7-5) was defeated by the UCLA Bruins (10-1) 12-9 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in their first doubleheader match on Saturday, Feb. 11. While the Anteaters were able to score a significant amount of their goals near the end of the match, their offense was ultimately not able to keep up with the Bruins.
The first period of the game began calmly, with both teams vying to score first. After a two and a half minute back and forth between both squads, the Anteaters finally scored as redshirt sophomore attacker Elena Flynn found the net into UCLA territory.
UCLA scored once in the first period, secured by graduate student utility Katrina Drake. UCI wasted no time in gaining back the lead, with sophomore utility Libby Alexander scoring a goal in return.
Both teams refused to let any more goals pass, quietly ending the latter half of the first period at 2-1 with UCI in the lead.
The second period began with UCLA scoring two goals within the first two minutes. Notably, the UCI offense stalled for the entirety of the period and wasn’t able to convert on any of the balls in their possession, not scoring whatsoever.
The Bruins upkept the pace with three more goals scattered throughout the period. One at the 5:35 mark by freshman utility Genoa Rossi, another at the 2:17 mark by Drake and one more by sophomore attacker Molly Renner. UCLA capped off a dominant second period performance at 6-2.
The third period of the game began with UCLA striking first again. After a goal at the 7:38 mark by senior attacker Hannah Palmer and another by freshman attacker Taylor Smith a minute later, the Anteater offense was forced to wake up.
A well-placed goal from sophomore attacker Gracie Helberg secured a point for the ‘Eaters at just under six minutes. When UCLA freshman utility Anna Pearson scored a goal for the Bruins near the four-minute mark, Flynn replied by scoring another for UCI with a hail mary ball two minutes later.
Pearson scored once more for her squad to end the third period 10-4 over the Anteaters.
The fourth and final period of the game began evenly, with both teams seeking to score in a dreary back-and-forth. UCLA struck first at the 6:43 mark. However, the Anteaters were able to cook up an impressive five goals in the last three minutes of the game.
Helberg began the comeback, spearing the ball into the UCLA net. UCI sophomore attacker Kennedy East then scored two goals for her squad to upkeep the pressure on the Bruins. Flynn scored one more goal for her team in the final period, and graduate student attacker Jessica Lynch finished the game by scoring the final goal for the ‘Eaters.
In spite of their efforts at the last moment, UCI ended the game trailing behind UCLA in a tough 12-9 loss.
Later, in their second doubleheader of the day, UCI managed to redeem themselves by dominating Whittier College (1-3) in a 19-2 shutdown.
The UCI Women’s Water Polo team’s next match will be against Loyola Marymount University at home on Feb 16.
Phillip Lemus is a Sports Staff Writer for the winter 2023 quarter. They can be reached at plemus1@uci.edu