Top-seeded and undefeated UCLA advanced to the NCAA women’s water polo final with a 10-8 victory over two-time defending champion and fourth-seeded Stanford Saturday at Berkeley.
The Bruins (25-0) will face third-seeded California (19-6) in Sunday’s 7 p.m. final that will be televised by ESPN. The Golden Bears were 9-6 winners over second-seeded Hawaii in Saturday’s other semifinal.
UCLA never trailed, taking the lead for good by opening the third quarter with power-play goals by Molly Renner and Genoa Rossi and an even-strength goal by Panni Szegedi. The Cardinal (19-7) cut the deficit to 7-6 with 1:32 left in the quarter on back-to-back goals by Christina Hicks and Kamryn Barone.
The Bruins regained a two-goal lead as Rossi scored with 1:11 to play in the quarter.
Taylor Smith scored a power-play goal and Szegedi on a penalty shot to increase UCLA’s lead to 10-6 with 3:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Stanford scored twice in the final 1:49.
Szegedi, a freshman from Hungary, led the Bruins with three goals while senior Malia Allen and Rossi both scored twice.
Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Steele made 12 saves and three steals for UCLA.
Barone, a freshman who graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School, scored four goals and Sophia Sanders two for Stanford.
Senior goalkeeper Maya Avital, a Corona del Mar High School alum, made five saves for the Cardinal.