PALO ALTO, Calif. -- UCLA downed UC San Diego 9-2 in a quarterfinal match of the NCAA Tournament at Avery Aquatic Center on Friday afternoon.
UCLA (25-2) has advanced to a semifinal match against California (20-7), to be played Saturday.
Against UC San Diego (19-19) on Friday, the Bruins received two goals each from Emily Donohoe, Devin Grab and Kelsey O’Brien. In addition, Mackenzie Barr, Rachel Fattal and Alys Williams each added a goal for UCLA.
The Bruins never trailed in the quarterfinal match, securing a 4-1 lead after the first quarter and extending their margin to 7-1 by halftime. UCLA limited UC San Diego to just one goal in each half.
Williams scored just 28 seconds into the game, putting UCLA ahead 1-0. UC San Diego countered with a goal from Jolene Guiliana with 4:35 to play in the opening quarter. With the game tied 1-1, O’Brien found the back of the cage with a strike at the 3:37 mark before the Bruins also received goals from Barr (2:11) and Fattal (0:58).UCLA outscored UC San Diego by a 3-0 margin in the second period. The Bruins held strong on each of UC San Diego’s two 6-on-5 opportunities in the first half, entering halftime with a 7-1 lead.
Grab scored her first goal of the game with 3:32 to play in the third quarter, extending UCLA’s lead to 8-1.
Guiliana scored the Tritons’ second goal of the day with 2:43 remaining in the third period, reducing the Bruins’ margin to 8-2. Grab scored her second goal of the afternoon with 4:13 to play in regulation.
Senior goalkeeper Sami Hill limited the Tritons to just one goal through three quarters and was credited with four saves. Junior goalkeeper Alex Musselman made two saves in the final quarter and allowed one goal.
UC San Diego goalkeeper Courtney Miller registered 14 saves in four quarters.
UCLA has earned its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament’s semifinals. The Bruins have won each of their previous two meetings against California this season.
