Musselman Makes History in Win Over No. 6 UC Irvine

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LOS ANGELES -- No. 2 UCLA (21-1) shook off a slow start to post a convincing 14-8 win over visiting No. 6 UC Irvine (13-5) on Friday afternoon at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. UCLA improved to 31-0 all-time against the Anteaters.

A total of five Bruins that included redshirt senior Maddie Musselman, senior Val Ayala, senior Katrina Drake, junior Hannah Palmer, and freshman Nicole Struss led UCLA in scoring with two goals apiece. But the day belonged to Musselman, who became UCLA's all-time leading scorer with the 238th career goal on a power play at the 6:23 mark of the third period. She scored the final goal of the game with 2:51 left in the fourth period. Musselman passed Kelly Rulon's (2003, 2005-07) career total of 237 goals.

"I'm very happy for her," UCLA head coach Adam Wright said. "You talk about the history of this program, that's a pretty big-time record. It's nice to be a part of it, but more than the record, I'm proud of the impact that she has had on this program in all facets."

"It's exciting but I think the biggest thing for me is that I've looked up to the people on that list for a long time," Musselman said of breaking the record. "I tried to emulate them as a player. I watched them in the Olympic Games when I was growing up and just to be on the same list as them, no matter what number I am at on that list, is something that I'm very humbled by. To be a part of that legacy is huge."

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

Jessica Lynch led UC Irvine with a game-high three goals.

PERIOD ONE
> UC Irvine outscored UCLA 4-2 in the opening period.
> Ayala opened the scoring with a power play goal (7:04).
> After the Anteaters scored back-to-back goals (6:30 and 4:31), Palmer scored a power play goal (3:05) to tie it up at 2-2.
> UC Irvine scored the final two goals of the period (1:48 and 0:32) to take a 4-2 lead into the second period.
 
PERIOD TWO
> UCLA won the second period, 4-1.
> Palmer scored her second of the game to open the scoring in the second (7:34) and then Struss found the back of the net on a power play (4:46) to tie it at 4-4.
> After another score from UC Irvine (4:23), senior Brooke Doten would tie it again at 5-5 with a power play goal (2:49).
> Ayala scored her second of the game to put the Bruins up 6-5 (0:58), a lead they would never relinquish
> UCLA led UC Irvine, 6-5, at the break.
 
PERIOD THREE
> The Bruins put the game away in the third period, outscoring UC Irvine, 6-1, to lead 12-6 heading into the final frame.
> Musselman's historic goal came on a power play and opened the scoring in the third (5:23).
> Sophomore Malia Allen made it 8-5 with a goal from the front court (5:30).
> After a power goal by the Anteaters (5:03), UCLA reeled off the last four goals of the third quarter.
> Freshman Molly Renner scored her first (3:44) and Struss connected for her second (1:56).
> Drake scored twice (2:43 and 0:01) to double up the Anteaters at the end of three.

PERIOD FOUR
> Both teams battled to a 2-2 draw in the fourth period to provide the 14-8 final score.
> Irvine opened the scoring in the fourth with back-to-back power play goals (7:48 and 6:04) to trim the lead to 12-8.
> Freshman Emma Lineback scored her first of the game (5:45) from the front court to push the lead to 13-8.
> Musselman then scored the 239th goal of her career to end the scoring in the game (2:51).

UP NEXT
The Bruins host No. 1 Stanford on Saturday, Mar. 26 at 1:00 p.m. PT in a Pac-12 Network broadcast.

No. 6 UC Irvine at No. 2 UCLA (Non-Conference Game)

6x5 - UCLA - 7/10 - UCI - 4/10
Penalties - UCLA - 0/0 - UCI - 1/1

UCI Goals: Jessica Lynch 3, Elena Flynn 2, Toni Shackelford 1, Piper Smith 1, Tara Prentice 1
UCI Saves: Faith Tedesco 5

UCLA Goals: Hannah Palmer 2, Maddie Musselman 2, Val Ayala 2, Katrina Drake 2, Nicole Struss 2, Brooke Doten 1, Malia Allen 1, Molly Renner 1, Emma Lineback 1
UCLA Saves: Georgia Phillips 9