USC
UCLA
Women's Water Polo Loses 9-8 Heartbreaker Against UCLA
April 05, 2002 | Women's Water Polo
April 5, 2002
LOS ANGELES - Junior Jessica Lopez scored the game-winning goal at 4:43 of the fourth period and the No. 3 UCLA Bruins upset the No. 1 USC Trojans, 9-8, in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action at McDonald's Swim Stadium. The Women of Troy appeared to have tied the match on a goal by Sofia Konoukh at the end of the fourth period, but referees ruled the shot had taken place after time had expired.
UCLA improves to 16-3 overall and moves into a first-place tie in the MPSF with an 8-1 record. USC falls to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in MPSF play. The Women of Troy also had its eight-game winning streak snapped.
Both teams played a spirited first period as they fought to a 3-3 tie. UCLA took advantage, however, in the second period with two early power-play goals by Lopez and Amber Stachowski. The Bruins outscored the Trojans, 4-1, in the second period and held a 7-4 advantage at halftime.
The Bruins' Kelly Heuchan scored the first goal in the third period, but the Trojans scored four unanswered goals to tie the match. Sandra Milicev completed the rally with a power-play goal at 3:58 of the fourth period. On the next play, Milicev was called for the ejection, allowing Lopez to score her match-high third goal from the left side for the winner.
USC will host UC Santa Barbara tomorrow at noon in another MPSF match at McDonald's Swim Stadium.
UCLA 3-4-1-1-9 USC 3-1-2-2-8
UCLA Goals: Jessica Lopez 3, Kelly Heuchan 2, Amber Stachowski 2, Robin Beauregard, Jenny Lamb USC Goals: Aniko Pelle 2, Sofia Konoukh 2, Nina Wengst 2, Katrin Dierolf 2
Saves: Jaime Hipp (UCLA) 5, Sarah Mix (USC) 6
