The Bruins played today for the ultimate prize – the NCAA Championship – but they were unable to grab a hold of it.

In a game characterized by slow offense and lapsed defense, UCLA lost 7-4 to the USC Trojans.

UCLA scored only twice in the first half, both goals scored by Josh Samuels when USC was at a disadvantage. The first was a penalty shot, the second on a 6-5 opportunity. In that same span of time, USC managed to net five goals.

USC scored only twice in the second half, showing an improvement in the UCLA defense in the second part of the game. However, that improvement was all for naught, as the Bruins managed to gain possession several times but only converted two of those opportunities into goals. One goal came from freshman attacker Paul Reynolds in the third quarter and one from redshirt senior Brett Hays in the fourth.

UCLA left the majority of its defense to redshirt junior goalie Matt Rapacz, as the players were unable to post any field blocks. It was a lapse into the poor defensive habits that plagued them in the middle of the season and seemed to have been righted over the past few weeks.

This marks USC’s fourth straight title, an unprecedented record in the NCAA.

Compiled by Emma Coghlan, Bruin Sports contributor.