Box Score
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Big West Championship winners UC Irvine battled to the final ticks before falling by one goal to No. 4 seed UCLA in the quarterfinal round of the 2022 National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championship at Canham Natatorium on Friday afternoon.
The Anteaters were looking for their first win over the Bruins in program history, and nearly pulled it off in their 30th attempt before the back-and-forth battle went the way of UCLA.
UC Irvine closes their season at 22-7 in the program’s seventh national postseason appearance. UCLA moves to 23-5 on the year and advances to take on top-seeded Stanford in the semifinal round.
UCLA got on the board first, a powerplay goal from Malia Allen with 7:39 on the clock in the first period. Three minutes later, UC Irvine returned the favor with a man advantage of their own when Brook Banta’s pass to Jessica Lynch made for the on-target strike. UCLA again edged out to the lead with 15 seconds to play in the first.
The scoring in the second frame was started off by UC Irvine’s Piper Smith. The Anteaters enjoyed their first lead of the game after Smith assisted on a goal for Big West Player of the Year Tara Prentice. Just one minute later, Jessica Lynch fired to the back of the net to give UC Irvine a 4-2 lead heading into halftime, holding the Bruins scoreless in the period.
UCLA scored the first two goals after halftime to knot the score at 4-all. Lynch again converted for the Anteaters with a quick answer by the Bruins to keep the game tied at five. The next set of goals was started by UCLA as Allen placed her second in the net, but UC Irvine was the one to answer 15 seconds later after the successful try for Elena Flynn to again tie the game. The scoring wasn’t over in the period, however, as UCLA and UCI Irvine again traded points, with the Anteaters’ connecting on a shot with one second on the clock after a Skibby steal and Prentice goal.
The Bruins again gained the advantage with 5:09 to play after MPSF Player of the Year Maddie Musselman found Katrina Drake for the UCLA point. Bruins goalie Georgia Phillips recorded five saves in the final period, including the final attempt of the contest by Isabel Rack as UCLA was able to fend off the Anteaters 8-7 to advance in the brackets.
UC Irvine outshot the Bruins 30-26 in the contest with Smith, Lynch, Prentice and Banta all finishing the game with two or more points. Prentice closes her career with 242 goals – a UC Irvine and Big West record – and her 76 goals in 2022 ties the Anteaters’ single-season mark.