Individual players uphold women’s water polo’s success
Junior attacker Emily Donohoe has played a vital role for the Bruins this season, leading the team in goals scored with 51. (Miriam Bribiesca/Daily Bruin)
By Erik Rehnberg
April 23, 2014 12:43 a.m.
After a one-loss conference campaign to cap a 23-3 regular season, the UCLA women’s water polo team sits in second place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation going into this weekend’s conference tournament. While much of the Bruins’ early season success came from a strong team effort, tougher games in the later part of the season have seen a few individual players stand out from the rest of the team.
Emily Donohoe
The junior attacker currently leads the team in scoring with 51 goals so far this season – 16 more than second-place sophomore attacker Rachel Fattal. Donohoe has contributed over a sixth of UCLA’s total goals so far this year. She was named MPSF Player of the Week on Monday after her three goals against USC helped the Bruins best the Trojans in the final game of the regular season.
Mackenzie Barr
Although the freshman utility mentioned in an interview earlier this year that there was “definitely a lot of adjustment” to playing collegiate water polo, Barr has made an immediate impact on the team. With 21 goals, she is the Bruins’ sixth leading scorer and has also been contributing heavily to UCLA’s defense. Barr and Donohoe returned to USC Monday night to play in a scrimmage between USC and the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, on which both Bruins play outside of the collegiate season.
Sami Hill
A redshirt junior, Hill’s impact at goalkeeper has been undeniable all season. Averaging more than 10 saves per game to less than five goals allowed, Hill has had a strong presence in the net all season. Against USC last week, Hill stopped 15 shots as the Bruins beat the Trojans for the first time in two years.
Compiled by Erik Rehnberg, Bruin Sports contributor.
