| Women’s Water Polo |
|---|
| Harvard — 4 |
| UCLA — 15 |
A 7-1 opening quarter propelled UCLA to a commanding win. No. 2 UCLA women’s water polo (16-2, 3-1 MPSF) overwhelmed No. 11 Harvard (23-2, 4-1 CWPA) in a 15-4 victory Saturday afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Center, using a dominant first quarter to take control and never look back.
The Bruins opened the game on a 5-0 run and finished the first period with a commanding 7-1 lead, fueled by contributions across the lineup. Five different UCLA players found the back of the cage before Harvard managed its first goal, setting the tone for what quickly became a one-sided contest.
UCLA maintained that momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Harvard 3-2 to take a 10-3 lead into halftime. Redshirt senior attacker Emma Lineback netted her second goal of the match during the period, while junior attacker Elektra Urbatsch and senior utility Anna Pearson each added to the Bruins’ growing advantage.
After a quieter third quarter that saw both teams score once, UCLA entered the final frame ahead 11-4. From there, the Bruins put the game completely out of reach, shutting out the Crimson 4-0 in the fourth.
Senior center Bia Mantellato led the offensive effort with a hat trick, while Lineback, senior attacker Taylor Smith and senior utility Lily Gess each added two goals apiece in a balanced scoring display that featured 10 different Bruins finding the net.
The final period also marked a milestone moment, as redshirt freshman center Ryan Chalupnik scored her first collegiate goal, finishing from two meters in her debut appearance.
UCLA’s defense proved just as dominant as its offense, holding one of the nation’s top teams to just four goals. Junior goalkeepers Lauren Steele and Joey Niz combined for six saves and three steals, limiting Harvard’s opportunities throughout the match.
For the Crimson, Niki Piovan accounted for three of the team’s four goals, but Harvard struggled to generate consistent offense against UCLA’s pressure.
The loss marked just the second of the season for Harvard, which entered the contest 23-1 as part of a challenging West Coast trip against top competition.
The Bruins will return to action March 28, when they host No. 8 Arizona State at Spieker Aquatics Center at 1 p.m. PST.
