No. 2 UCLA Nets Huge Road Win at No. 4 California, 9-8

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BERKELEY, Calif. -- No. 2 UCLA (19-1, 3-0 MPSF) remained undefeated in MPSF play with a 9-8 win at No. 4 California (11-2, 0-2 MPSF) this afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Complex. In the 75th meeting between the two teams, the Bruins improved to 62-13 all-time against the Golden Bears. The victory was also a milestone win over Head Coach Adam Wright, as he won his 100th game as the head coach of the Bruins' Women's Water Polo team (100-23, .813).

The Bruins were led by redshirt senior Maddie Musselman, who scored four goals on five shots and added two assists for a total of six points. Musselman has 234 career goals which ranks third all-time on the UCLA career charts. She needs two more to move into second place (2. Coralie Simmons - 235) and four more to become the all-time leader in UCLA history (1. Kelly Rulon, 237). Senior Katrina Drake and junior Abbi Hill scored two goals apiece to help the Bruins maintain their lead in the MPSF.

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Georgia Phillips got the start in the cage and went the distance, recording 14 saves while allowing eight goals.

Cecily Turner led California with three goals.

PERIOD ONE
> UCLA outscored California 3-2 in the opening period, the only period that didn't end in a draw.
> Musselman opened the scoring by converting on a penalty shot (5:42).
> Then after Cal scored from the front court (5:15), Drake answered with her first (5:02) to put the Bruins back in front at 2-1.
> California tied it up at 2-2 (3:13) with a penalty conversion, but Musselman scored on a power play (3:01) to put the Bruins up 3-2 after one.
 
PERIOD TWO
> Both teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the second period.
> Musselman completed her hat trick on a power play to open the scoring in the second (3:28) to put UCLA up 4-2.
> Turned scored her second of the game for California (1:21) to end the scoring in the second quarter.
> UCLA led California, 4-3, at the break.
 
PERIOD THREE
> Both teams battled to a 2-2 draw in the third period.
> Senior Ava Johnson opened the scoring in the third with a power play goal (7:13) to extend the lead to 5-3.
> After back-to-back goals by Cal (5:17 and 1:46), Hill scored her first of the game (1:34) to end the scoring in the third with UCLA leading 6-5 heading into the final frame.

PERIOD FOUR
> Both teams battled to a 3-3 draw in the fourth period to provide the 9-8 final score.
> California, which never led in the game, scored the first goal of the fourth (6:25) to tie the game at 6-6.
> Drake added her second of the game (5:51) to put UCLA up 7-6.
> After the Golden Bears tied it up with a power play goal (3:23), Musselman scored her fourth of the game to put the Bruins up 8-7 (3:13).
> California would tie it up at 8-8 (2:12) with the third goal from Turner.
> Hill's second goal of the game proved to be the game-winning goal (1:00).

UP NEXT
The Bruins step out of conference to play at No. 17 Pacific (3-6) tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. PT.

No. 2 UCLA at No. 4 California (MPSF Game)

6x5 - UCLA - 3/11 - CAL - 2/4
Penalties - UCLA - 1/2 - CAL - 1/1

UCLA Goals: Maddie Musselman 4, Abbi Hill 2, Katrina Drake 2, Ava Johnson 1
UCLA Saves: Georgia Phillips 14

CAL Goals: Cecily Turner 3, Elli Protopapas 2, Kitty Lynn Joustra 1, Shea Salvino 1, Ruby Swadling 1
CAL Saves: Maya Avital 18