No. 1 UCLA Cruises Past Biola, 21-2

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SAN DIEGO -- No. 1 UCLA (1-0, 0-0 MPSF) opened the 2021 season with a 21-2 win over Biola (0-1) in the Bruins' first game of the Triton Invitational at UCSD's Canyonview Aquatic Center on Saturday morning.

Sophomore attacker Tanner Pulice and redshirt sophomore attacker Jack Larsen each scored three goals to lead the Bruin offense. Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Garret Griggs got the start and registered four saves while allowing just one goal in the first half. Redshirt sophomore Chase Honaker tended the cage in the second half and tallied five saves while surrendering one score.

Biola, playing its first-ever game in the sport of men's water polo, were led by one goal apiece from Dominic Hidalgo and Luke Franklin. Mitchell Carpenter got the start in goal for Biola and tallied four saves while allowing 15 goals (10 in the second quarter). Casey Cazanjian played the second half in the cage and recorded one stop while allowing six goals.

UCLA led 5-1 at the end of the first period with five different Bruins scoring one goal apiece. Larsen and Pulice each scored, as did senior attacker/utility Jake Cavano, redshirt freshman attacker Gianpiero Di Martire, and redshirt sophomore utility Giorgio Alessandria.

The Bruins dominated the second period on both sides of the ball with a 10-0 score to take a 15-1 lead into the break. Eight different Bruins scored in the period, led by two goals from freshman attacker Chase Dodd. Redshirt senior utility Evan Rosenfeld and junior center Gabe Discipulo scored their first goals of the game in the second frame, as did junior attacker Tommy Gruwell, and junior attacker Andy Rodgers. Di Martire, Larsen, and Pulice each tacked on a second goal of the game.

UCLA outscored Biola 6-1 in the second half (5-0 in the third period) to provide the 21-2 final. Pulice and Larsen each completed their hat tricks with one goal in the second half. Freshman center Eli Liechty netted two goals in the third period while Cavano and Discipulo added another goal in the third to give them each two scores for the game. Sophomore attacker Ethan Shipman provided the lone score for UCLA in the fourth quarter.

No. 1 UCLA vs. Biola (UCSD Triton Invitational)

6x5 - UCLA - 6/8 - BU - 1/6
Penalties - UCLA - 1/2 - BU - 0/0

BU Goals: Dominic Hidalgo 1, Luke Franklin 1
BU Saves: Mitchell Carpenter 4, Casey Cazanjian 1

UCLA Goals: Jack Larsen 3, Tanner Pulice 3, Gabe Discipulo 2, Jake Cavano 2, Gianpiero Di Martire 2, Eli Liechty 2, Chase Dodd 2, Evan Rosenfeld 1, Andy Rodgers 1, Ethan Shipman 1, Tommy Gruwell 1, Giorgio Alessandria 1
UCLA Saves: Chase Honaker 5, Garret Griggs 4