In a Battle with No. 5 Michigan, No. 3 UCLA is the Victor, 7-6

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SAN DIEGO -- No. 3 UCLA (14-0) had to rally from a halftime deficit for the second-straight game, this time defeating No. 5 Michigan (7-4), 7-6, to advance to the finals of the Triton Invitational on Sunday afternoon. The Bruins improved to 30-0 all-time against the Wolverines.

The Bruins were led by freshman Molly Renner, who scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner with 1:00 left in the fourth quarter on a power play. 
Senior Katrina Drake paced the UCLA offense with three points (one goal and two assists). She also drew two exclusions and had one steal.

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Georgia Phillips got the start in the cage and went the distance, registering nine saves while allowing six goals. She also registered one steal.

Maddie O'Reilly led the Wolverines and all scorers with three goals.

PERIOD ONE
> Michigan outscored UCLA 3-1 in the opening period.
> O'Reilly scored all three of her goals in the first period (7:21, 6:45, and 1:06).
> Drake ended the Bruins' scoring drought with a power play goal (0:32) to end the scoring in the first with the Wolverines leading 3-1.
 
PERIOD TWO
> The Bruins pitched a shutout in the second period, but only scored one goal.
> Senior Val Ayala scored the only goal in the quarter from the front court (2:42).
> UCLA trailed 3-2 at the break.
 
PERIOD THREE
> The Bruins again held Michigan scoreless and posted two scores in the third.
> Redshirt senior Maddie Musselman scored a power play goal to tie the game at 3-3 (4:52).
> Freshman Emma Lineback scored her first of the game on a power play (3:12) to give the Bruins their first lead of the game at 4-3. It would hold up as the last goal of the quarter.

PERIOD FOUR
> Both teams battled to a 3-3 tie in the fourth quarter to provide the 7-6 final score.
> Ava Morrant tied the game at 4-4 with a power play goal for Michigan (5:14).
> Renner scored her first of the game from the front court (4:08) to put the Bruins back in front, 5-4.
> Senior Ava Johnson stretched the lead to 6-4 with a power play goal at the 3:17 mark.
> After a goal by the Wolverines (1:37) trimmed UCLA's lead to 6-5, Renner's second goal of the game on a power play (1:00) stood as the eventual game-winner.
> Michigan's Kata Utassy scored a power play goal (0:26) to end the scoring in the game as the Bruins ran out the clock to seal the win.

UP NEXT
The Bruins will face No. 1 USC in the championship game of the Triton Invitational tonight at 5:20 p.m. PT.

No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 5 Michigan (Triton Invitational - Semifinals)

6x5 - UCLA - 5/11 - UM - 3/7
Penalties - UCLA - 0/1 - UM - 1/1

UM Goals: Maddie O'Reilly 3, Kata Utassy 1, Ava Morrant 1, Elise Walker 1
UM Saves: Alex Brown 11

UCLA Goals: Molly Renner 2, Maddie Musselman 1, Val Ayala 1, Ava Johnson 1, Emma Lineback 1, Katrina Drake 1
UCLA Saves: Georgia Phillips 9