| Women’s Water Polo |
|---|
| UCLA — 11 |
| USC — 13 |
For three quarters, it felt like UCLA had one more push in them.
Every response was there. Every goal answered. Every possession carried the sense that the Bruins were building toward something bigger. But against the top team in the country, even a slight opening can decide everything.
No. 3 UCLA women’s water polo (18-3, 4-2 MPSF) fell just short against No. 1 USC (21-2, 6-0 MPSF) on Saturday afternoon at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center, 13-11.
UCLA opened the match with control, jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter behind sharp execution on both ends. Senior center Bia Mantellato anchored the offense early, while senior attacker Taylor Smith helped stretch the defense with confident perimeter shooting.
The Trojans responded in the second. USC flipped the tempo and strung together a run that turned a UCLA lead into a halftime deficit, closing the quarter ahead 5-4.
The third period slowed into a back-and-forth exchange. Redshirt sophomore center Dania Innis and redshirt senior attacker Emma Lineback each found the net to keep UCLA within striking distance, but USC maintained its narrow edge heading into the final frame.
Then came the decisive stretch.
USC broke through with a six-goal fourth quarter, forcing UCLA into a chase. The Bruins continued to respond, and in the final two minutes, they trimmed the deficit from 13-9 to 13-11 with a late surge. But the gap never fully disappeared.
Mantellato finished with two goals and consistently commanded attention at center, creating space for UCLA’s attack. Smith added two goals on six attempts, while Innis and Lineback each scored twice to give the Bruins balanced production.
Junior attacker Elektra Urbatsch also contributed efficiently, converting both of her shot attempts into goals.
In goal, junior goalkeeper Lauren Steele recorded 11 saves and added three steals, holding UCLA steady through several key stretches as USC pushed forward.
As a team, UCLA converted 11 of 33 shots and went 3-for-7 on power play opportunities, keeping the game within reach throughout. USC, however, proved slightly more clinical, finishing 13 of 31 attempts and capitalizing on late possessions.
Despite the loss, UCLA remained composed throughout, matching the Trojans for long stretches and showing the depth that has defined its season.
The Bruins will now shift their focus toward postseason play, where another meeting with their crosstown rival could be waiting during the MPSF Championship on April 10.
