12/3/2000 - Men's Water Polo
Water Polo Falls To Top-Ranked UCLA In NCAA Tournament Opener

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MALIBU, Calif. (Dec. 2) - The 11th-ranked Navy water polo team fell to top-ranked UCLA, 12-5, in the 2000 NCAA Tournament Dec. 2 at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

"We got a little flustered and lost our composure in a couple of situations, where we were getting beat a little on the fast break," Navy head coach Mike Schofield said. "We were not sorting things out very well and the next thing you know the score is 5-1. I am proud of our guys. I thought we prepared very well, but I thought the experience and the capabilities of the UCLA team were just a little too much for us."

Navy (24-11) took a 1-0 lead in the first quarter on sophomore Adrian Rawn's (Greenwich, Conn.) goal, while the Bruins scored the next 11 consecutive goals to take a 11-1 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Mids outscored UCLA 4-1 in the final period as the Bruins went to a 12-5 victory.

Senior captain Sean Foster (Davis, Calif.) led Navy in scoring with two goals. Freshman Joe Donahue (Annapolis, Md.), sophomore Steve Phillabaum (Lansdale, Pa.) and Rawn each scored a goal for the Mids.

Navy goalie Nick Hill (Long Beach, Calif.), a UCLA transfer, made 11 saves in the cage, while allowing 11 goals. Sophomore Cody Acuna (Davis, Calif.) made one save in goal for the Mids and allowed a goal.

Andrew Bailey, Ryan Brown, Sean Kern and Blake Wellen each scored two goals apiece to lead the Bruins.

UCLA goalie Brandon Brooks made six saves and allowed a goal, and Eric Meadows made two saves and allowed four goals.

"I thought it was a good game for us today," UCLA head coach Guy Baker said. "I thought Navy played well. I was happy with the way we started the game and built from there. Each quarter we got stronger."

Ninth-ranked UC San Diego upset fourth-ranked Southern California, 9-8, in the other national semifinal to advance to Sunday's championship game at 5:30 p.m. (EST). Navy will play the USC in the third place game at 4 p.m. (EST).

Saturday, December 2

Game 1- UCLA defeats Navy, 12-5

Game 2- UC San Diego defeats Southern California, 9-8

Sunday, December 3

4 p.m. (EST) Third Place Game - Navy vs. Southern California

5:30 p.m. (EST) NCAA Championship Game - UCLA vs. UC San Diego