Team USA Women vs. UCLA Water Polo

LOS ANGELES, California, April 18. THE USA Women's Senior National Team defeated the top ranked team in the NCAA ranks in the form of the UCLA Bruins by a one goal margin 6-5 in a game played in Westwood, California. UCLA graduates Natalie Golda and Jamie Hipp made their return to the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center and were integral parts of the USA victory

Team USA jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter as Golda cashed in along with Brenda Villa and Kami Craig. Come the second period the UCLA defense would step up blanking Team USA while adding a goal of their own by Courtney Mathewson to make things tight at the half with USA leading 3-2.

The third quarter saw more close action as each team scored just once with Golda connecting for USA and the action moved to the fourth with UCLA trailing 4-3. In the fourth USA tried to put the game away scoring two straight goals as Golda and Villa found the net to build a 6-3 lead. Undaunted the Bruins battled back scoring a pair of extra man goals to close within one at 6-5. They would get no closer as a shot in the waning seconds sailed wide of the cage and Team USA came away with the win. Jamie Hipp did the job in net turning aside six shots.

"I thought we did some positive things but at the same time we know we have some things to work on and we'll get another opportunity right away as we take on USC tomorrow evening," stated USA Head Coach Guy Baker. Team USA plays the Women of Troy at 5pm on the campus of USC. The loss to Team USA does not affect UCLA's current perfect season as they remain 22-0 on the year. The game was a homecoming as well for Coach Guy Baker who was a longtime coach of both the men's and women's programs at UCLA.

Special thanks to USA Water Polo for contributing this report.

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