The UCLA women’s water polo team secured a place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship Tournament semifinal after defeating Indiana 20-10 on April 10 at Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley, California. The third-seeded Bruins will face second-seeded Stanford, which won its quarterfinal against San Jose State.
This victory allows UCLA (19-3) to continue its postseason run and compete for a spot in the championship final. The team’s performance was marked by strong offensive play and effective goalkeeping.
Four Bruins scored hat tricks during the match, with Bia Mantellato leading the team with four goals. Taylor Smith, Elektra Urbatsch, and Jojo Walters each contributed three goals. Goalkeepers Lauren Steele and Joey Niz combined for 13 saves. For Indiana (15-10), Louisa Downes and Grace Klingler each scored three times while Jasmine Higgs made nine saves.
The game began with Anna Pearson scoring first for UCLA, followed by several power-play opportunities that both teams converted throughout the quarters. By halftime, UCLA led Indiana 9-5. In the third quarter, after an early goal from Klingler of Indiana, UCLA responded with five consecutive goals to widen their lead.
UCLA maintained control through the fourth quarter as Smith completed her hat trick early on and additional players contributed to the scoreline. The final scoreboard showed a decisive win for UCLA: 20-10.
