No.3 UCLA women’s water polo (2-0) delivered two outstanding performances, defeating Fresno State (4-3) 14–6 and Long Beach State (5-2) 18–7. Across both matchups, the Bruins showcased offensive depth, early control and disciplined execution, building leads in both games that they maintained through all four periods.
Against Fresno State, UCLA set the tone immediately, opening the game with five first-quarter goals. Sophomore attacker Tali Stryker, senior attacker Taylor Smith and senior utility Anna Pearson led the early scoring surge giving UCLA a 5–1 advantage. The Bruins’ offense continued to flow in the second period, with goals from Pearson and redshirt senior attacker Emma Lineback pushing UCLA to a 7–2 halftime lead.
UCLA also came out strong in the third period with five goals gaining more of a lead against Fresno State. Smith added another goal, while junior attacker Elektra Urbatsch, junior attacker Becca Melanson, sophomore attacker Jenna Human and Lineback all contributed to the scoring run. UCLA closed the period ahead 12–3, effectively putting the game out of reach for Fresno State. Ultimately, UCLA maintained dominance to secure the 14–6 victory.
The Bruins carried that momentum into their matchup against Long Beach State, opening the game with five goals in the first quarter. Stryker played a key role early, as UCLA built a 5–2 lead with efficient offensive possessions.
UCLA continued to extend its lead in the second period, scoring five consecutive unmatched goals to give UCLA a commanding 10–2 advantage at halftime.
The third period saw consistent pressure on Long Beach from UCLA, with goals from Stryker, sophomore attacker Jojo Walters, redshirt freshman attacker Ana Pieper and Melanson. The Bruins closed the period ahead 14–5, maintaining control on both ends of the pool.
In the final period, UCLA added four more goals, with the final goal coming from Stryker, to seal the 18–7 win over Long Beach State. The Bruins had an impressive weekend as they won both games with never trailing behind.
Next up No.3 UCLA women’s water polo will prepare for their matchup on Jan. 30 against No.22 California State Fullerton in La Jolla, California to compete at the Triton Invitational at UC San Diego.
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Featured Image via Daily Bruin Archives
