No. 2 UCLA Crushes No. 7 San Jose State, 20-5

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- No. 2 UCLA (12-3) came out firing on all cylinders and cruised to a 20-5 win over No. 7 San Jose State (2-15) in the quarterfinals of the 2021 MPSF Championship at Arizona State's Mona Plummer Aquatic Center on Friday morning. With the win, the Bruins improved to 41-0 all-time against the Spartans.

Junior Bella Baia had a breakout performance with a game- and career-high five goals and an assist for six points to go with one steal. Sophomore Abbi Hill also scored six points against SJSU, chipping in three goals and three assists to go with one drawn exclusion and one steal. Junior Katrina Drake was the third Bruin to score a hat trick and she was one of 11 Bruins to score in the game. Senior Jahmea Bent got the start in the cage and went the distance, recording eight saves while allowing just five goals.

UCLA won the opening period 6-3 with five different Bruins scoring. The Bruins got two goals from Baia (3:22 and 2:35) and one each from Drake (7:08), junior Val Ayala (6:02), sophomore Fiona Kuesis (1:54) and sophomore Hannah Palmer (0:01).

The Bruins pitched a shutout in the second period while tacking on four more scores to take a 10-3 lead into the break. UCLA got two more goals from Baia (4:40 and 3:52), and one goal each from senior Roxy Wheaton (6:29) and Hill (3:08).

Another high-scoring period followed in the third with UCLA winning the stanza 5-2 to build a 15-5 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Five different Bruins scored in the third, which included one goal apiece from Hill (7:20), senior Myna Simmons (4:06), junior Bella Wentzel (2:53), senior Lexi Liebowitz (1:58), and freshman Malia Allen (0:13).

Hill completed her hat trick to open the scoring in the fourth period (6:51), which was won by UCLA 5-0 to provide the 20-5 final. Palmer added her second of the game (6:20) and then Drake scored back-to-back goals (4:24 and 2:56) to complete her hat trick. Baia netted her fifth of the game (1:22) to end the scoring in the fourth.

Hannah Henry tended the cage for SJSU for the first three periods and had one save while allowing 14 goals. Elaina Davey came on in relief in the fourth period and was credited with one save while surrendering six scores. Riley Agerbeek was the only Spartan to score more than one goal as she finished with a team-high two scores.

The Bruins return to action tomorrow in the first semifinal against No. 3 Stanford at 11:30 a.m. PDT.

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 7 San Jose State (MPSF Quarterfinals - Game 15)

6x5 - UCLA - 2/8 - SJSU - 2/10
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - SJSU - 0/0

SJSU Goals: Riley Agerbeek 2, Tyanna Supreme 1, Clarissa Wandinger 1, Ryann Lucchesi 1
SJSU Saves: Hannah Henry 1, Elaina Davey 1

UCLA Goals: Bella Baia 5, Abbi Hill 3, Katrina Drake 3, Hannah Palmer 2, Fiona Kuesis 1, Bella Wentzel 1, Val Ayala 1, Malia Allen 1, Myna Simmons 1, Roxy Wheaton 1, Lexi Liebowitz 1
UCLA Saves: Jahmea Bent 8