Feb. 14, 2009

LOS ANGELES - Despite a four-goal effort from senior Nicole Hughes and an impressive second quarter push, the No. 9 Loyola Marymount women's water polo team could not overcome No. 4 UCLA and their thrid quarter run as the Bruins earned a 14-7 win Saturday afternoon at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center.

The Bruins scored the game's first two goals in the first 2:31 and after an LMU goal, used a 3-0 scoring run to assume a 5-1 lead with 58 seconds to play in the opening period. The Bruins led, 5-2, after one quarter.

Trailing by a 6-2 margin with 7:28 to play in the first half, LMU responded with a 3-0 scoring run, cutting the Bruins' advantage to 6-5 at the 2:27 mark in the second quarter. The score remain that way heading into halftime.

UCLA took command of the match in the third quarter, using a 5-0 scoring run to assume an 11-5 cushion. Hughes ran her total of goals this season to 19. Scoring the other goals for the Lions were all newcomers in Kimberly Benedetti, Daisy Carrillo and Casey Flacks.

Loyola Marymount freshman goalkeeper Elise Ponce recorded nine saves in the cage while the Lions kept Bruin goalie Brittany Fullen busy as she earned a career-best 18 saves.

The Lions head to the UC Irvine Women's Water Polo Invitational next Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22. The Lions are the No. 3 seed in Bracket B and will play San Jose State at Corona Del Mar High School at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday to start the tournament. Stanford and UC San Diego are also in the bracket.

UCLA 14, Loyola Marymount 7
Team --- 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 = F
No. 9 LMU --- 2 - 3 - 0 - 2 = 7
No. 4 UCLA --- 5 - 1 - 4 - 4 = 14
LMU Goals: Nicole Hughes 4, Kimberly Benedetti, Daisy Carrillo, Casey Flacks
LMU Saves: Elise Ponce 9
UCLA Goals: Priscilla Orozco 3, Katie Rulon 3, Anne Belden 2, Kelly Easterday 2, Tanya Gandy 2, Sarah Orozco, Noel Umphrey
UCLA Saves: Brittany Fullen 18