Blue and gold drowns Lions’ efforts

  Edward Lim UCLA junior playmaker Jeff
Pflueger looks to shoot a goal in Friday’s Waterpolo match
against Loyola. UCLA v. LMU 16-2

By Pauline Vu
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

The Loyola Marymount Lions didn’t put up any challenge
when the first string Bruins were playing. When the second half
began and the second string Bruins started playing, the tempo of
the game still didn’t change.

The Lions got crushed.

Saturday afternoon in an impressive display of talent throughout
the whole team, the top-ranked Bruins (15-2 overall) of the MPSF
league easily steamrolled the West Coast Conference’s LMU
(13-9 overall) in a 16-2 victory.

“We knew as long as we played somewhat capable, we’d
come out on top,” UCLA co-head coach Adam Krikorian said.

You could say the Bruins were a little more than “somewhat
capable.”

In what was UCLA’s 12th straight win, 12 different Bruins
scored.

After the first period they led 6-0 and after the second, they
led 9-1.

In the first half, senior Adam Wright and junior Jeff Pflueger
each scored twice, and seniors Dave Parker, Andy Bailey, Brian
Brown and Blake Wellen and sophomore Matt Flesher added one goal
apiece.

With the Bruins leading 7-0, LMU’s John Peterson scored an
extra man goal with 5:10 left in the period.

Then came the third quarter, and with it, a change of players.
Guys who play on UCLA’s “white team” in practice
““ the team that gives the starting blue team all it can
handle ““ were put in the pool for real competition.

In the third quarter, the guys of the white team outscored the
Lions, 6-1. Sam Hyman scored the lone goal that period for LMU.

“Guys who are usually members of the white team
don’t get a chance to play,” Krikorian said.
“Today was their chance to shine.”

Sophomore Kyle Baumgarner and junior Jon Puffer scored two goals
each, in the period. True freshman Albert Garcia and junior Alfonso
Tucay each added goals.

Sophomore Eric Meadows, coming in for sophomore goalie Brandon
Brooks, last week’s MPSF Player of the Week, matched
Brooks’ stats, getting five saves and allowing one goal.

“From top to bottom there’s talent on our
team,” Puffer said. “Every player here could play
anywhere else.”

In the final quarter, the Bruins only had one goal (from
sophomore Dan Yielding), but, by increasing the lead to 14, the
white team slammed any Lion hopes of a comeback.

“They played well,” starter Wright said. “The
most important thing is that they played good defensively and
maintained the lead.”

Though they played against real competition, Puffer said that
practices are still tougher for the white team.

“Definitely (playing) against the blue team, it’s
way more intense,” he said. “The level of competition
is so much higher.”

Krikorian was pleased to see the white team members get their
chance.

“They provide a real important role for our team and push
the starters in practice, but they don’t get any
credit,” Krikorian said.

After their role in this defeat of LMU, give them credit.