No. 1 UCLA Rallies to Beat No. 8 UCSD, 15-8

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CLAREMONT, Calif. -- No. 1 UCLA (6-0, 0-0 MPSF) remained undefeated on the year after a huge 15-8 win over eighth-ranked UC San Diego on Saturday afternoon at Matt M Axelrood Pool.

With the win over the Tritons, UCLA improved to 59-1 in the 60th meeting all-time between the two schools.

Redshirt sophomore attacker Jack Larsen had a breakout game with a career-high four goals. A total of 11 different Bruins scored in the game. The only other Bruin with more than one score was sophomore attacker Tanner Pulice with two goals.

Sophomore goalkeeper Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, recording 11 saves and one steal while allowing eight goals.

PERIOD ONE
> Larsen scored a goal to tie it at 2-2 (3:24).
> Karlo Krmek scored a goal (1:56) to put UCSD up 4-2.
> The Bruins tied it at 4-4 with a power play goal by Andy Rodgers (1:17) and a goal at even strength by Pulice (0:52). It was Pulice's second score of the contest.
> That score would hold the rest of the way with the teams tied at 4-4 at the end of the first period.
 
PERIOD TWO
> Freshman Chase Dodd gave the Bruins their first lead of the game at 5-4 on a 6-on-5 opportunity (6:20). UCLA would never trail again.
> Sophomore Makoto Kenney (5:37), senior Jake Cavano (4:16), and junior Tommy Gruwell (0:02) all scored one goal apiece in the second quarter.
> UCLA would lead 8-7 at the half after Gruwell's goal just before the end of the period.
 
PERIOD THREE
> Larsen opened the scoring in the third (6:35) to put UCLA up 9-7.
> Kaden Likins scored for the Tritons (2:11) to cut it to 9-8.
> Freshman Gianpiero Di Martire scored at the buzzer (0-0) to give UCLA a 10-8 lead heading into the final stanza.
 
PERIOD FOUR
> UCLA outscored the Tritons, 5-0, in the final quarter.
> The scoring run was six straight for UCLA which began with Di Martire's shot at the buzzer to end the third.
> Larsen completed his hat trick to open the scoring in the fourth (7:43) and then added his fourth of the game on the Bruins' next possession (7:13).
> Junior defender/utility Cameron Reagan (3:20), redshirt senior Felix Brozyna-Vilim (1:35), and freshman center Eli Liechty (0:24) each scored one goal down the stretch to provide the 15-8 final.

UP NEXT
UCLA finished the weekend with No. 19 Pomona-Pitzer (4:00 p.m. PT) on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Matt M. Axelrood Pool.

No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 8 UC San Diego (Inland Empire Classic)

6x5 - UCLA - 2/7 - UCSD - 2/8
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - UCSD - 2/2

UCSD Goals: Karlo Krmek 2, Vedran Latkovic 2, Miles Wilson 1, Manuel Augusto 1, Calder Hilde-Jones 1, Kaden Likins 1
UCSD Saves: Alexander Nemeth 10

UCLA Goals: Jack Larsen 4, Tanner Pulice 2, Jake Cavano 1, Andy Rodgers 1, Gianpiero Di Martire 1, Chase Dodd 1, Makoto Kenney 1, Tommy Gruwell 1, Cameron Reagan 1, Felix Brozyna-Vilim 1, Eli Liechty 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 11