Feb. 17, 2007

Stockton, Calif. The Pacific women's water polo team fell to No. 1 ranked UCLA by a final score of 30-5 on Saturday, February 17th at Chris Kjeldsen Pool on the campus of the University of the Pacific.

With the loss, the Tigers fell to 0-4 on the season, 0-4 in the MPSF, while UCLA improved to 6-0, 2-0 in MPSF action.

The Bruins came out of the gates hot, scoring the games first eight goals before redshirt junior Virginia McConnell (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) found the back of the cage on a 6-on-5 power play to make the score 8-1. Following two more Bruin goals, McConnell drew a five-meter penalty against UCLA's Kelly Rulon, which allowed freshman Sarah Harris (Cape Town, South Africa) to score on a penalty shot to make the score 10-2 after one period of play. The Tigers struck twice in the second period, with Harris scoring on a 6-on-5 power play and then drawing a five-meter penalty against the Bruins Tanya Gandy and converting the try. At the half the Tigers trailed 17-4.

UCLA would go on to outscore the Tigers 13-1 the rest of the way as the lone Pacific goal of the second half was made by McConnell, who scored her second of the game, making the score 19-5 in the third period. The game ended with 11 straight UCLA goals, making the final outcome 30-5.

Harris ended the game with three goals for the Tigers, while McConnell ended with two.

The Bruins were led by Melissa Mordell who scored five goals, as UCLA outshot the Tigers 42-17.

Pacific is next in action this coming Sunday as the travel to the Roadrunner Invitational to face Cal State East Bay at 1:00 p.m. and host Cal State Bakersfield at 4:00 p.m.

Pacific: 2-2-1-0 = 5
UCLA: 10-7-5-8 - 30

Goals:
Pacific: Harris 3 (11, 12, 13), McConnell 2 (4, 5)
UCLA: Mordell 5, Murphy 4, Belden 3, Gandy 3, Klaus 3, Nelson 3, Crowell 2, Domanic 2, Rowe 2, Mathewson, Katie Rulon, Kellie Rulon

Blocks: Fullen (UCLA) 5, Gray (PAC) 2, Hauck (PAC) 3

Sprints: Belden (UCLA), Domanic (UCLA), Mordell (UCLA), Safir (PAC)

Attendance: 65