No. 1 UCLA Falls at No. 2 USC, 8-7

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LOS ANGELES -- No. 1 UCLA (16-2, 1-1 MPSF) dropped its first league game of the season, falling 8-7 at No. 2 USC (16-1, 2-1 MPSF) on Saturday afternoon at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. UCLA fell to 90-88-1 in the series history.

Sophomore Makoto Kenney led all scorers with three goals. He was the only Bruin to score multiple goals.

Junior Bernardo Maurizi got the start in the cage and went the distance, registering four saves.

PERIOD ONE
> Both teams played to a 1-1 draw in the opening period with the Trojans getting a power play goal to open the scoring (4:32).
> Senior Jake Cavano scored the only goal for the Bruins in the period from the front court at even strength (1:39) off an assist from redshirt sophomore Jack Larsen.
 
PERIOD TWO
> The two teams again battled to a 1-1 draw in the second period.
> The Trojans scored a goal at even strength to open the scoring in the second (5:47).
> Kenney tied things up at 2-2 with a power play goal on another assist by Larsen (2:08).
 
PERIOD THREE
> The Trojans used a buzzer beater to win the third quarter, 4-3, to take a 6-5 lead into the fourth quarter.
> After USC scored, Chasen Travisano scored a counter goal on a power play (5:35) to tie it at 3-3.
> Chase Dodd then gave the Bruins' their first lead of the game at 4-3 (4:44).
> After a Trojan goal, Kenney then scored his second of the game on a power play (2:19) to put the Bruins up 5-4.
> The Trojans then got a penalty shot conversion and a goal at the buzzer to reclaim the lead at 6-5.

PERIOD FOUR
> Both teams battled to a 2-2 draw in the last frame to provide the 8-7 final.
> Nicolas Saveljic converted a penalty shot to tie the game at 6-6 (6:30).
> After USC got two goals to take an 8-6 lead, Kenney completed his hat trick (0:02) to end the scoring.

UP NEXT
The Bruins conclude the 2021 regular season with a game at No. 2 California on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 10:00 a.m. PST.

No. 1 UCLA at No. 2 USC (MPSF Game)

6x5 - UCLA - 2/9 - USC - 2/7
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - USC - 1/1

UCLA Goals: Makoto Kenney 3, Jake Cavano 1, Nicolas Saveljic 1, Chase Dodd 1, Chasen Travisano 1
UCLA Saves: Bernardo Maurizi 4

USC Goals: Ashworth Molthen 2, Carson Kranz 2, Jake Ehrhardt 2, Hannes Daube 1, Alexander Lansill 1
USC Saves: Nic Porter 12