April 5, 2003

Berkeley, Calif. - The No. 5 California women's water polo team (12-6, 5-3, MPSF) was upended by the nation's No.1-ranked team this afternoon, as the Bears lost a 6-1 decision to the UCLA Bruins in an MPSF matchup at Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley. Sophomore Jodie Needles tallied the lone goal for California.

The Bears claimed the early 1-0 advantage as Needles took the pass down low in the set with the shot clock winding down and squirted the ball past Bruin goalie Jaime Hipp for the lead at the 4:49 mark. The Cal advantage was short-lived, however, as UCLA senior Jessica Lopez knotted the game at 1-1 just 29 seconds later with her only goal of the afternoon. Bruin freshman Lauren Heineck swam uncontested into the middle with 2:48 left to play in the first, and found the top left corner of the net for the 2-1 lead. That was how the first period ended as sloppy Cal defense and an aggressive UCLA offense gave the Bruins the 2-1 edge.

In the second period, neither team wanted to get caught sleeping as both squads stayed relatively patient and conservative, but stepped up the quiet intensity. Both squads traded shot clock violations and shots wide of the net for the majority of the period, until the Bruins' leading scorer Natalie Golda tallied the first of her two goals with 22 seconds remaining until the half. UCLA went into the break with the 3-1 lead.

The Bears continued to stay stagnant in their offensive sets while the Bruins were busy lighting up the scoreboard with three unanswered goals. Golda converted on a power play opportunity just 56 seconds into the third stanza, handing UCLA the commanding 4-1 lead. Freshman Kristina Kunkel responded at the 2:34 mark and sophomore Kristyn Pulver at the 1:12 mark to put the Bruins on top 6-1.

Cal stepped up the intensity once again the fourth, but Hipp was strong in the cage, recording three of her six saves in the period. Neither team was able to find the back of the net as the teams swam to a 6-1 UCLA victory.

Cal returns to action Saturday, April 12 at 12:00 p.m., as the Bears challenge No. 2 Stanford in an MPSF match-up at Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley.

No. 5 California 1, No. 1 UCLA 6

		1	2	3	4	Total
UCLA		2	1	3	0	6
Cal		1	0	0	0	1

Cal Goals:Jodie Needles.
Cal Goalie Saves: Lauren Dennis 8

UCLA Goals: Natalie Golda 2, Jessica Lopez, Lauren Heineck, Kristina Kunkel, Kristyn Pulver.
UCLA Goalie Saves: Jaime Hipp 6