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Szegedi hat trick sparks UCLA women to 7

Time:2024-06-03 18:39:43

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — UCLA freshman Panni Szegedi scored three goals in the final 8:43 for her second hat trick in a row and the unbeaten and top-ranked Bruins pulled away for a 7-4 victory over the third-seeded California Golden Bears, winning their eighth NCAA women’s water polo championship on Sunday night at the Spieker Aquatics Complex.

Szegedi and coach Adam Wright helped the Bruins (26-0) claim their first title since a record streak of five in a row from 2005-09.

Cal (19-7) grabbed a 1-0 lead at the 2:36 mark of the first quarter on senior Maryn Dempsey’s team-leading 48th goal of the season. UCLA pulled even when Anneliese Miller scored with 15 seconds left in the period.

UCLA jumped in front with 4:59 left in the second quarter on a goal by Natasha Kieckhafer. The Golden Bears answered with 3:31 left on a goal by Rozanne Voorvelt to knot the score at 2-2 at halftime.