• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Photo

Sophomore driver Katherine Belden, who finished with four goals, and the No. 1 Bruins scorched th

After Sunday’s game against Michigan, UCLA coach Adam Krikorian and the women’s water polo team sat on the top of the bleachers in Canham Natatorium, in Ann Arbor, Mich. It may have been a moment to reflect on their past three games and how they utterly dominated their opponents, outscoring them 49-5. It was also a culmination to a trip that had a greater purpose. “This is the time, this is where we’ll be playing,” senior Natalie Golda said. “This is visually where we know we want to be come May.” And in May, that time will be the NCAA Tournament. With such lofty goals set on a team that is expected to capture the NCAA title, Krikorian made a conscious effort to schedule his team to begin and end its season in Michigan. Dismantling Indiana State, Colorado and host Michigan this weekend in the Michigan Invitational, the No. 1 Bruins are still making adjustments to a team that includes a host of Olympians and every key player from last season. “We can pull from anyone on the bench because anyone can score from anywhere,” Golda said. “That makes us dangerous. If we learn to play together we can devastate people.” As for just gauging the performance of this year’s team on its opening weekend, Krikorian will harp on two things in practice this coming week. “I’m going to emphasis defense and creativity,” he said. “At times we operate mechanically as in individually on the offensive end. We need to play with a sense of freedom.”

SOFTBALL: The two-time defending NCAA champion UCLA softball team opened its season on Sunday with a doubleheader sweep at UC Santa Barbara, winning 5-1 and 9-1 respectively. Freshman pitcher Anjelica Selden and fellow freshman left fielder Krista Colburn each shined for the Bruins. Selden started the second game and pitched a complete game, striking out 14 batters in seven innings while allowing only one run on three hits. Colburn went 7-for-7 with a home run, a triple, a stolen base and four RBI. UCLA shortstop Jodie Legaspi added to the offense with two home runs, going 4-for-7 with three RBI for the day. Bruin third baseman Andrea Duran got five hits in a 5-for-8, 3 RBI performance. Pitcher Lisa Dodd hurled a complete game in the first game, allowing only one run and four hits in seven innings while tallying seven strikeouts. The Bruins play next on Wednesday, when they take on UC Riverside in a doubleheader at Irvine’s Bill Barber Park.

LACROSSE: The men’s lacrosse team won its home-opener against Cal 4-3 in a defensive battle. Goalie Spencer Fivelson recorded 14 saves for a Bruin team that had never been a part of a win over the Golden Bears. “Spencer kept us in the game,” UCLA coach Lane Jaffe said. Though the Bruins jumped out to a 3-0 lead, Cal came back to score the next three goals. However, in the fourth quarter, Will Jun scored his second goal of the day to put the Bruins ahead for good. Jeremy Gessow and Patrick Chung also added goals for UCLA, which will travel to play Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday. The women’s lacrosse team also won their first game of the season, a 17-1 romp over Loyola Marymount.

Compiled by Bruin sports senior staff.