No. 3 UCLA Falls at No. 2 Stanford, 12-11

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STANFORD, Calif. -- No. 3 UCLA (4-1, 2-1 MPSF) dropped its first game of the season at No. 2 Stanford (6-1, 4-1 MPSF), 12-11 on Saturday afternoon at Avery Aquatic Center. The Bruins fell to 35-52 all-time against the Cardinal, dropping the last seven meetings.

Three Bruins tied for team-high scoring honors as juniors Bella Baia and Katrina Drake, senior Brooke Maxson, and freshman Anneliese Miller each scored two goals apiece. Redshirt sophomore Georgia Phillips got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying five saves while allowing 12 goals.

The Cardinal jumped out to a 4-2 lead at the end of the first period. The Bruins got goals from Miller (4:47) and Baia (0:22).

The Bruins rallied back to cut the lead to 5-4 in the second period with a power play goal from junior Skylar Savar (5:30) and a second goal by Baia (5:11). Stanford went up 6-4, but UCLA had an immediate answer from Drake (1:36). Roemer netted her second goal of the game on a power play for Stanford (1:08) for the final score of the period to give the Cardinal a 7-5 lead at the break and a 7-3 lead on power plays in the first half.

After Stanford opened the scoring in the third period with a power play goal, Maxson placed a lob shot perfectly to beat the Cardinal keeper (6:09) to cut the deficit to 8-6. Then Maxson set up sophomore Hannah Palmer for her first score of the game (4:01) to cut it to 8-7. Maxson then called her own number for her second score and the Bruins third-straight goal to tie it at 8-8 (3:31). Sarah Klass completed her hat trick to score the last goal of the third period (0:56) to give the Cardinal a 9-8 lead heading into the fourth.

The Cardinal would open the scoring in the fourth with a penalty shot conversion by Jewel Roemer (6:20) to push the lead to 10-8 over the Bruins. Miller then set up Drake for her second score of the game on a power play (4:03) to cut it to 10-9. Then after another goal by the Cardinal, senior Lexi Liebowitz made it a one-goal game again with a power play strike (3:07) to make it 11-10. Sophie Wallace scored to put Stanford up 12-10 (0:55). But UCLA pulled its goalie and scored with the 7-on-6 advantage when Miller found the back of the net for her second score of the game to cut it to 12-11 with 0:39 seconds remaining. After the Cardinal ran off 30 seconds, the Bruins got the ball back with 4.8 seconds remaining and called timeout. With another 7-on-6 advantage, the Bruins' final shot was saved by Emalia Eichelberger to preserve the Cardinal's 12-11 win.

Eichelberger finished with 10 saves while Klass, Roemer and Chloe Harbilas all had a hat trick for Stanford.

UCLA returns to action tomorrow on Saturday, Mar. 28 when it takes on Stanford again at 1:00 p.m.

No. 3 UCLA at No. 2 Stanford (MPSF Game - Game 5)

6x5 - UCLA - 3/8 - STAN - 4/12
Penalties - UCLA - 0/0 - STAN - 1/1

UCLA Goals: Bella Baia 2, Brooke Maxson 2, Katrina Drake 2, Anneliese Miller 2, Skylar Savar 1, Hannah Palmer 1, Lexi Liebowitz 1
UCLA Saves: Georgia Phillips 5

Stanford Goals: Chloe Harbilas 3, Sarah Klass 3, Jewel Roemer 3, Hannah Constandse 2, Sophie Wallace 1
Stanford Saves: Emalia Eichelberger 10