Crimson's Season Ends in Second Consecutive NCAA Tournament

Harvard women's water polo fell to No. 3 UCLA in the NCAA quarterfinals to cap a 26-4 season.

LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 9 and seventh-seeded Harvard women's water polo was eliminated at the NCAA Championship in the quarterfinals by No. 3 and second-seed UCLA, 15-5, at the Canyonview Aquatic Center. The Crimson end the season at 26-4 overall in their second overall and second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance as winners of the CWPA Championship.

Photos | Replay | Stats

UCLA (21-4) was led by Taylor Smith's four goals. Emma Lineback totaled six points on three goals and three assists, while Bia Mantelatto contributed two goals and an assist. For Harvard, Heidi Heffelfinger tallied three points on seven shots with two goals and an assist in the final game of her career. Junior Maya O'Dea added a goal and three assists.

The play in the cage dictated the pace early as sophomore Orli Cooper was up to the task against the Bruins attack. However, it was UCLA's Lauren Steele that was nearly unbeatable throughout that match. Cooper totaled six saves, while Steele also recorded six saves, but was credited with three steals.

How It Happened

Playing outdoors under clear skies on a 68 degree evening, the action started with Harvard sophomore goalie Orli Cooper stopping the first two shots she faced before Emma Lineback broke the ice with the first goal of the game.
Senior lefty Heffelfinger blasted the first Harvard goal into the cage off the keeper to cut it to 2-1.
Heffelfinger at the horn goes cross-cage for a 7-on-6 goal to cut it to 4-2 before the end of the first quarter.
The first power play chance of the game came early in the second for the Crimson, but UCLA turned away the Harvard attempt. A second power play moments later resulted in a skip-shot goal for O'Dea, playing against her sister Katherine O'Dea of UCLA, to cut the deficit to 5-3.
UCLA answered with a 6-on-5 goal just 25 seconds later to ignite a 5-0 Bruin run that extended beyond the intermission.
Niki Piovan ripped a 10-meter shot to end the UCLA run and make it 10-4 in the third.
Lucy Levenberg-Pinklis got on the score sheet before the buzzer at the end of the third to make it 12-4.