No. 2 UCLA Falls to No. 4 USC to End Regular Season

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STANFORD, Calif. -- No. 2 UCLA (6-5, 5-5 MPSF) couldn't get an offense going and closed out the regular season with a 9-4 loss to No. 4 USC (4-7, 3-7 MPSF) on Saturday afternoon at Avery Aquatic Center. The short-handed Bruins, playing without four key players, will now wait for the seedings to be unveiled for the 2020-21 MPSF Championship, in which UCLA will be hosting on March 5-7.

Freshman Mo Kenney got the Bruins on the board first with a goal at even strength (1:17). Junior Jake Cavano set up freshman Ethan Shipman for his first collegiate goal (0:23) to end the scoring in the first period with the Bruins leading 2-0.

Jake Ehrhardt scored first for USC to open the scoring in the second period (2:35), trimming the Bruins' lead to 2-1. Tony Nardelli then tied it at 2-2 with a goal for the Trojans (0:21) to end the scoring in the second quarter.

Nardelli gave USC its first lead of the game with a power play goal (5:21) in the third quarter. Kenney then scored his second of the game from the front court (3:14) to tie it at 3-3 and put an end to the Trojans' scoring run. Kenney completed the hat trick by converting a penalty shot (1:20) to put the Bruins in front, 4-3. But Wyatt Barker scored (0:54) and then Chris Sturtevant (0:09) to give USC a 5-4 lead heading into the fourth.

Barker opened the scoring in the fourth (6:31) to extend USC's lead to 6-4. He then pushed the lead to 7-4 with another score (4:00) at even strength after the Bruins failed to convert on a penalty shot. Barker then put the game out of reach with his fourth goal of the game with 2:32 remaining. Orestis Apergi scored the final goal of the game (0:02) to provide the 9-4 final.

Sophomore Bernardo Maurizi led the way for UCLA's defensive effort, logging 12 saves on the game. Kenney finished with a hat trick to lead the Bruins' offense.

Nic Porter registered 10 saves for USC, which was led in scoring by Barker's four goals.

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 4 USC (Avery Aquatic Center)

6x5 - UCLA - 0/13 - USC - 1/6
Penalties - UCLA - 1/2 - USC - 0/0

USC Goals: Wyatt Barker 4, Tony Nardelli 2, Jake Ehrhardt 1, Chris Sturtevant 1, Orestis Apergi 1
USC Saves: Nic Porter 10

UCLA Goals: Mo Kenney 3, Ethan Shipman 1
UCLA Saves: Bernardo Maurizi 12