A last-second shot propelled the UCLA women to their second consecutive National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo title May 14 with a 9-8 victory over favored Southern California.

The victory brought the Bruins their fourth title in the six years the NCAA has sponsored the championship. It also was UCLA’s 99th team title in NCAA sports.

UCLA sophomore Courtney Mathewson scored the winning goal in the tournament at UC Davis on a five-meter shot past Southern California goalkeeper Whitney Morgan with one second remaining. Mathewson’s game-winning effort was made possible by junior Kelly Rulon, who led all scoring with four goals, and Gabrielle Domanic, who scored a pair.

In the opening minutes of the game, the crossbar was the toughest defender in the tank, with first a Southern California and then a UCLA attempt deflecting off the cage. But UCLA’s Rulon was able to snag her own rebound and on her second shot found the mark to put the Bruins on the board first.

The two teams went back and forth in the physical match, with no team ever ahead by more than one goal.

The Bruins were ahead, 8-7, going into the final minute, but Southern California tied the game when leading scorer Patty Cardenas completed her hat trick with a goal in the lower right of the net. The Bruins scored on a power play during their final possession, setting up Mathewson’s game-winning goal.

“When (Domanic) had the ball, I knew there was six seconds left, but once I got it, I had no idea how much time was left ... it was kind of like just in the moment,” Mathewson said. “I don’t really remember everything. It just kind of happened. I got the ball, I knew my teammates had faith in me to shoot, and I shot it. I’m just so happy it went in.”

UCLA head coach Adam Krikorian notched his fifth women’s water polo title for the Bruins, including non-NCAA competition.

“The difference in the game is they were 2-for-17 on 6-on-5 and we were 5-for-11. Obviously we did a great job on our 5-on-6. We made some big saves when we had to. We hustled,” he said. “I think the key to the game today, other than that, was our depth.”

Ironically, Southern California had beaten UCLA February 12 to end a 40-game Bruins winning streak that dated back to last season. The Mother’s Day victory evened the 2006 series between the two in-state rivals at two wins apiece.

The Bruins finished the year with a 29-4 record, while Southern California completed a 27-3 campaign.

Rulon was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. She was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Emily Feher and Thalia Munroe, Southern California’s Moriah Van Norman and Lauren Wenger, Hawaii’s Anna Sieprath and Iefke Van Belkum, and Scotti Shafer from Stanford.

 Semifinals

UCLA scoring: Kelly Rulon 3, Molly Cahill 1, Gabrielle Domanic 1, Thalia Munro 1, Jillian Kraus 1, Kristina Kunkel 1.

Stanford scoring: Scotti Shafer 3, Katie Hansen 1, Lauren Silver 1.

Saves: UCLA (Emily Feher) 9, Stanford (Meredith McColl) 3.

Southern California scoring: Moriah Van Norman 3, Brittany Hayes 2, Patty Cardenas 2, Anna Pardo 1, Kami Craig 1.

Hawaii scoring: Anna Sieprath 2, Kelly Mason 2, Kristy Bagnall 2, Iefke Van Belkum 1.

Saves: Southern California (Whitney Morgan) 8, Hawaii (Meike De Nooy) 6.

Third-place game

Stanford scoring: Scotti Shafer 2, Jessica Steffens 2, Lauren Silver 2, Jacquelyn Gauthier 1, Nancy El-Sakkary 1.

Hawaii scoring: Kelly Mason 3, Kristy Bagnall 1, Iefke

Van Belkum 1.

Saves: Stanford (Meridith McColl) 10, Hawaii (Meike De Nooy) 4.

Championship game

UCLA scoring: Kelly Rulon 3, Gabrielle Domanic 2, Molly Cahill 1, Jillian Kraus 1, Courtney Mathewson 1.

Southern California scoring: Patty Cardenas 3, Brittany Hayes 2, Lauren Wenger 1, Moriah Van Norman 1, Erika Figge 1.

Saves: UCLA (Emily Feher) 4, Southern California (Whitney Morgan) 6.