Women’s NCAA Water Polo: UCLA, Stanford Win in First Round of MPSF Tourney

LOS ALAMITOS, Cali., May 1. UCLA's women's water polo team, ranked
third nationally and defending NCAA champs, drowned California, 8-4, to complete a three-match season-sweep ofthe Golden Bears here this evening.

The match was the opening-round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament at the U.S. National Water Polo Training Center here. UCLA (21-4) will play second-seeded and last year's NCAA runners-up Stanford at 6:15 PM PDT Saturday (May 1) with the winner advancing to Sunday's championship.

The Cardinal advanced to the semis with an easy 10-3 romp over "out-womaned" Hawaii.

The Bruins' Jenna Murphy's goal with one second left on the clock at the end of the third quarter gave UCLA the lead for good at 5-4 in an 8-4 triumph.

Kristina Kunkel scored three goals for the Bruins and Katie Flanagan two. Cal led 3-2 in the second quarter before goals by Kunkel (3:40) and Flanagan (2:51) gave UCLA a 4-3 halftime lead. Elsie Windes' second goal, at 4:26 in the third, tied the game at 4-4. Flanagan (3:03), Kunkel (2:40) and Molly Cahill (1:55) scored fourth quarter goals for UCLA.

BOX SCORE

UCLA vs. California

Teams 1 2 3 4 Final

(6) California 2-1-1-0 4

(3) UCLA 2-2-1- 3 8

Goals: UCLA – Kristina Kunkel 3, Katie Flanagan 2, Lauren Heineck, Jenna Murphy, Molly Cahill; California – Elsie Windes 2, Jodie Needles, Lauren McGee

* * * * *

Second-seeded Stanford downed No. 7-seed Hawaii 10-3 in its first game of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tourney. The win improves the Cardinal record to 19-3 this season.

After a close first quarter, Stanford out-scored Hawaii 5-1 in the second to grab a commanding 6-1 halftime lead.

The Cardinal went on to tally four more goals in the second half to clinch the win.

Stanford was led by Scotti Shafer with three scores, followed by Katie Hansen with two goals.

Goalie Meredith McColl allowed three goals and tallied seven saves.

BOX SCORE

1 2 3 4 F
Stanford 1-5-2-2 10
Hawaii 0 1 1 1 3

Stanford Scorers: Scotti Shafer (3), Katie Hansen (2), Alison Gregorka, Val Riss, Hannah Luber, Kelty Luber, Laurel Champion
Hawaii Scorers: Beth Novick, Darcy Scott-Hosaka, Kristy Bagnall
Goalie Saves: McColl (Stan) 7 (GA-3), Matuk 0 (GA-0); Lumb (Hawaii) 3 (GA-8), Hahn (Hawaii) 1 (GA 2)

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