UCLA succeeded in its quest to finish the season undefeated, capturing the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship May 15 at Michigan in a close match against Stanford. The Bruins bested the Cardinal, 3-2, capturing UCLA's third national championship in the tournament's five-year history.

Each team played strong defense, and the game was the lowest-scoring in championship history. The 2004 championship game between undefeated Southern California and Loyola Marymount was the highest-scoring.

UCLA led throughout the game, including a 2-0 lead at halftime off goals by senior Natalie Golda and Brittany Rowe. Both UCLA goals came in the first quarter, and neither team was able to score in the second.

Stanford came out quickly in the second half, capitalizing on its second possession of the third period to cut the lead to one off a marker by senior Hannah Luber. The UCLA defense prevented a tying goal for the rest of the third quarter.

In the final period, UCLA's Rowe scored again, and Stanford's Katie Hansen answered just a minute later. The last minutes of the game played out with neither team able to put points on the board. A Bruin victory was assured when UCLA forced a turnover and ran out the final 16 seconds on the clock.

UCLA coach Adam Krikorian noted that all the games the Bruins have played against Stanford have been close -- with UCLA gaining one-point victories in each of the three meetings this season.

"I would have never expected this kind of game. I thought we'd score more than three, but I also thought they would put in more than two," he said. "It was a physical game and the refs let us play. It says a lot about this team and its heart and character. We went through this year without any really close games until yesterday against Hawaii (a 7-6 Bruin victory) and today. It's indescribable."

UCLA finished the season 33-0. Stanford, 22-7, finished second in the championship for the third time. The Cardinal won the title in 2003.

Stanford coach John Tanner blamed turnovers for the loss.

"There wasn't a whole lot of momentum or a lot of goals scored. It was just getting a few good possessions in a row. That was the only control that anyone had," he said. "I felt we didn't have enough sustained possessions. We had way too many turnovers. We just didn't have enough concerted play in the frontcourt."

This year's championship was the first held east of the Mississippi River.

Semifinals

UCLA scoring: Kelly Rulon 3, Gabrielle Domanic 1, Natalia Golda 1, Thalie Munor 1, Kristina Kunkel 1.

Hawaii scoring: Monika Kruszona 2, Iefke Van Belkum 2, Anna Sieprath 2.

Saves: UCLA (Emily Feher) 7, Hawaii (Meike DeNooy) 11.

Stanford scoring: Hannah Luber 2, Scotti Shafer 1, Katie Hansen 1, Nancy El-Sakkary 1.

Southern California scoring: Moriah Van Norman 2, Eszter Gyori 1, Brittany Hayes 1.

Saves: Stanford (Meridith McColl) 9, Southern California (Sarah Mix) 9.

Third-place game

Southern California scoring: Moriah Van Norman 2, Lauren Wenger 2, Eszter Gyori 2, Brittany Hayes 1, Erin Wilson 1, Erika Figge 1, Anna Pardo 1, Janna Wenger 1.

Hawaii scoring: Anna Sieprath 3, Amy Logan 2, Iefke Van Belkum 1.

Saves: Southern California (Sarah Mix) 11, Hawaii (Meike DeNooy) 3.

Championship game

UCLA scoring: Brittany Rowe 2, Natalia Golda 1.

Stanford scoring: Hannah Luber 1, Katie Hansen 1.

Saves: UCLA (Emily Feher) 7, Stanford (Meridith McColl) 8.