USC
UCLA
Women of Troy Fall In NCAA Championship Game
May 11, 2008 | Women's Water Polo
May 11, 2008
PALO ALTO, CALIF. - The USC women's water polo team was unable to capture a third national championship on Sunday, falling in the 2008 NCAA Championship game with a 6-3 loss to defending champion UCLA at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center. It was USC's fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, and marks the Trojans' second runner-up finish in three years. USC, which finishes the year with a 21-8 overall record for its 11th consecutive 20-win season, got goals from seniors Veronika Bartunkova and Miranda Nichols, as well as one from leading scorer Michelle Stein. USC's sophomore goalie Tumua Anae had eight saves for the Trojans to finish the year with 232 saves. Anae, Bartunkova and Nichols were all named to the NCAA All-Tournament First Team for their efforts in leading the Women of Troy to the 2008 title game.
In the title game, USC came up against the nation's top defense in the Bruins, who also were making their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA championship game. The younger Trojans struggled to convert on power play chances during the first half, and fell into a four-goal hole by halftime and again during the fourth period. The NCAA championship win gives UCLA four straight national titles.
"It's really tough when UCLA gets a lead on you, to come back," USC head coach Jovan Vavic said. "Last night (against Stanford in the semifinals) our shots went in and we hit some incredible shots, but tonight we didn't.
"This is a great accomplishment for this young team. I guarantee you we will be back next year."
The Trojans hit a roadblock on 6-on-5 opportunities in the first period, while the Bruins managed to convert two and get one even score for a 3-0 lead. The Women of Troy broke through with a score off the foul from Veronika Bartunkova -- the senior's 50th goal of the year -- making it 3-1 UCLA with 1:28 to go in the first. In the second frame, another pair of USC power plays resulted in near misses for the Trojans, while UCLA was able to finish off a 6-on-5 to open the period and then get a skip from Tanya Gandy for her second of the day to lift the Bruins ahead 5-1 to bring up the second half.
The Trojans tallied a goal in the third period after hard work by Sarah Van Norman at two meters got USC up on another 6-on-5. This one would not pass the Trojans by, as Alexandra Kiss hit Michelle Stein for a rocket that made it 5-2 with 1:03 left in the third frame. In the fourth, UCLA got up by four again, as Priscilla Orozco scored to the bottom right to make it 6-2 with 6:14 on the clock. On USC's next possession, the Women of Troy got up again on a power play, and senior Miranda Nichols deposited the ball in off the bar to get the score to 6-3 UCLA with 5:30 remaining. USC's next shot attempts would either fall just wide or nail the crossbar, leaving the Trojans out of reach of claiming a third national championship.
2008 NCAA Championship
Sunday, May 11 - Avery Aquatic Center (Palo Alto, Calif.)
UCLA 6, USC 3
USC 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 = 3
UCLA 3 - 2 - 0 - 1 = 6
SCORING:
USC - Veronika Bartunkova, Michelle Stein, Miranda Nichols.
UCLA - Tanya Gandy 2, Courtney Mathewson, Gabbie Domanic, Anne Belden, Priscilla Orozco.
SAVES: Tumua Anae (USC) 8, Brittany Fullen (UCLA) 6.
