LA JOLLA, Calif. - The No. 5 Fresno State water polo team fell 10-8 to No. 3 UCLA in the Triton Invitational championship game on Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs wrapped up play at the UC San Diego-hosted tournament with a 2-2 showing including wins over No. 6 UC Irvine and No. 1 USC.
Fresno State had four goal scorers and were led by Hailey Andress with three goals. Abbey Simshauser and Brooke Ochoa scored two apiece, and Caitlyn Mossman added one.
In the goal, Paula Nieto Jasny recorded 10 saves including one on a 5-meter penalty.
The Bulldogs out-shot UCLA 43-25 in the contest. The 43 shots taken were the most in a game for the Bulldogs this season.
Fresno State moves to 8-3 on the season. Of the Bulldogs' eight wins, seven have been to Top 20 teams including defeating the No. 1 team on two different occassions.
How it happened
UCLA got out to an early 2-0 lead before Andress connected with Simshauser on the 6-on-5 advantage for the Bulldogs' first goal of the game at the 3:30 mark in the first quarter. The Bruins answered on their next possession, but Andress scored on the assist from Ochoa with 2:14 left in the opening quarter, taking advantage of another powerplay opportunity. UCLA scored on a 6-on-5 of their own and Andress fired one in with seven seconds left on the clock for a 4-3 game at the end of the first in favor of UCLA.
Ochoa and Mossman hit back-to-back goals to take the lead early in the second, but UCLA quickly tied it up with a goal at the 5:01 mark. Simshauser found Andress for the response goal but UCLA came back with another to tie it again, this time at six with 1:30 left in the opening half. The teams would ride the 6-6 tie into halftime.
UCLA scored the only goal by either team in the third quarter, to take a 7-6 lead into the fourth.
The Bruins opened the fourth with back-to-back scores before Simshauser scored with the assist from Andress at the 4:40 mark. Less than 40 seconds later, Ochoa scored for the 'Dogs to put the 'Dogs back within one at the 4:02 mark. UCLA scored the final goal of the game with 1:29 left in the game. The Bulldogs had chances to score but UCLA keeper Lauren Steele managed to come up with the ball on many of those attempts.
Up Next
Fresno State gets a week of rest before hosting the Bulldog Mini at the Aquatics Center on Feb. 16-17. The 'Dogs will take on FPU and Whittier College in their second home-hosted tournament of the season.