LA JOLLA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's water polo was upended by No. 3 UCLA, 17-2, and Marist, 10-8, on Saturday, the opening day of action at the Triton Invitational.
The Broncos (2-4) will close out action in the two-day, 16-team event on Sunday. They will face Cal State East Bay at 9:20 a.m. and play either Pomona-Pitzer or San Diego State in the afternoon.
Game One: UCLA 17, Santa Clara 2
Ava Johnson posted four goals to lead third-ranked UCLA to a convincing 17-2 win over the Broncos.
Johnson scored twice in the opening period and once more in the second when the Bruins (12-0) tallied five goals to build a 9-1 lead by halftime.
Grace Reego, Maddie Musselman and Bella Baia each registered two goals for the Bruins who remained perfect on the season.
Hannah Buck and Hailey Eberle had the goals for the Broncos. Both of those goals came on the power play where Santa Clara had nine attempts.
UCLA went 5-for-7 with the man advantage.
Alexa Grau suffered the loss for the Broncos, registering three saves in the opening half of her first-career start. Grace Kavanaugh played the second half, seeing her first-career action.
Game Two: Marist 10, Santa Clara 8
Katherine Tijerina tallied a game-high four goals, including three in the fourth quarter, to help Marist rally past Santa Clara for a 10-8 win.
Justine Castro and Susan Cantoni each scored twice for the Red Foxes who notched four of the final five goals of the game.
Hannah Buck, Annie Eldredge and Hailey Eberle had two goals apiece for the Broncos.
Buck scored to snapped a 6-all tie early in the fourth period.
But Tijerina answered with two goals in 1:05 span and then Castro and Cantoni added insurance markers.
Lydia Dadd started in goal for the Broncos and had seven blocks.
The Broncos were 0-for-3 with the extra attacked the Red Foxes were 3-for-6.
Santa Clara led 3-1 in the opening period and 6-4 in the third quarter.
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