No. 2 UCLA Thwarts No. 14 Harvard's Upset Bid, 16-15

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DAVIS, Calif. -- No. 2 UCLA (10-0) thwarted No. 14 Harvard's (3-2) upset bid getting two key defensive stops in the final 20 seconds to hold on for a 16-15 win in the Bruins' final game of the Aggie Roundup at UC Davis' Schaal Aquatics Center on Saturday afternoon. UCLA improved to 3-0 in the series history against the Crimson.

The Bruins had 10 players score in the game, which included a career-high three goals from redshirt sophomore Gianpiero Di Martire and a career-high-tying hat trick from senior Andy Rodgers. Rodgers finished as the leading scorer with five points (also had two assists). Redshirt freshmen Grant Loth and Trey Doten also reached multiple goals scored (two) against the Crimson.

Junior Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, registering nine saves and three steals while allowing 15 goals.

James Rozolis-Hill led Harvard with a game-high five goals and Noah Hodge had nine saves while surrendering 16 goals to UCLA.

PERIOD ONE
> The two teams battled to a 5-5 draw in the first period.
> Harvard held leads at 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 before the Bruins scored back-to-back goals to claim a 4-3 lead.
> Loth scored (6:51) to tie it at 1-1, then redshirt freshman Anthony Gross scored (4:41) to knot it up at 2-2.
> Rodgers scored his first (3:56) and freshman Gray Carson scored (2:14) to put the Bruins in front for the first time.
> Doten scored his first (0:51) to put UCLA up 5-4, but Harvard tied it up (0:33) to end the scoring in the first.

PERIOD TWO
> Harvard dominated the second quarter, outscoring UCLA 5-2, to take a 10-7 lead into the break.
> Doten scored his second on a penalty (7:41), but Harvard answered with a penalty conversion (7:26) to tie it at 6-6.
> Harvard regained the lead (6:37), but Loth scored his second for an equalizer (4:46) at 7-7.
> It was all Harvard after that with the Crimson scoring a goal at even strength (4:19) followed by power play goals (2:33 and 0:42) to end the scoring in the second.
 
PERIOD THREE
> UCLA would stay with Griggs in the cage, but inserted its offensive starters to win the third period, 6-2, taking a 13-12 lead heading into the final period.
> Senior Gabe Discipulo scored from set to open the scoring in the third (7:46).
> Di Martire scored his first off a feed from Giorgio Alessandria (6:39) to pull the Bruins to within one at 10-9.
> After the Crimson scored (4:32), Rodgers scored back-to-back (3:55 and 2:46) to tie the game at 11-11.
> Di Martire then scored his second from a pass from sophomore Chase Dodd (1:39) to put the Bruins back in front at 12-11.
> Harvard converted a penalty shot (0:37) to tie it back up, but freshman Noah Rowe found the back of the net from the front court (0:14) to end the scoring in the third.

PERIOD FOUR
> Both teams battled to a 3-3 draw in the fourth quarter to provide the 16-15 final.
> Di Martire completed his hat trick to open the scoring in the fourth quarter (7:13), giving UCLA its first two-goal lead of the contest at 14-12.
> After a power play goal by Harvard (6:40), Redshirt sophomore Maximo Rossi pushed the lead back to two (15-13) with a score from two meters (3:52).
> Harvard wouldn't make it easy for UCLA, scoring again with 3:23 to go. But like he did in the day's earlier win over Princeton, super senior Jake Cavano stepped up to score the eventual game-winning goal (3:11), converting on a penalty shot that was drawn by senior Tommy Gruwell.
> The Crimson chipped into the lead (1:15), scoring from the front court to make it 16-15 UCLA.
> After a turnover by UCLA, Harvard had two possessions in the final 0:43 to tie the game. The Crimson drew an exclusion and had a good look to tie it up from Gabe Putnam, but Griggs turned his near-side skip shot away and deflected it out of bounds with six seconds left. Harvard had a corner throw, but couldn't get a final shot off before the buzzer against the Bruins' swarming defense.

UP NEXT
The Bruins return to action next week at the MPSF Invitational at Stanford (Sept. 23-25). UCLA will open up against Santa Clara on Friday, Sept. 23, at 2:00 p.m. PT.

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 14 Harvard (Aggie Roundup - Game 4)

6x5 - UCLA - 2/2- HAR - 4/8
Penalties - UCLA - 2/2 - HAR - 2/2

HAR Goals: James Rozolis-Hill 5, Gabe Putnam 2, Owen Hale 2, Andrej Basica 1, Alex Tsotadze 1, Mot Stothart 1, Kaleb Archer 1, Alex Bucur 1, Michael Sonsini 1
HAR Saves: Noah Hodge 9

UCLA Goals: Gianpiero Di Martire 3, Andy Rodgers 3, Grant Loth 2, Trey Doten 2, Gabe Discipulo 1, Jake Cavano 1, Gray Carson 1, Noah Rowe 1, Anthony Gross 1, Maximo Rossi 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 9