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Young players on UCLA women’s water polo team make splashes early into careers

Coach Brandon Brooks has learned over the past three seasons how to help his young freshman players adjust to collegiate play.

By Susana Vasquez

Jan. 30, 2013 1:04 a.m.

The wrong article was originally posted on this Web page.

Just before the first game of her college career at the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invitational, freshman goalkeeper Alex Musselman was feeling jittery.

“I was nervous,” Musselman said. “But my team was cheering for me, so they made me feel better about it.”

By the end of the match, however, Musselman looked more than just comfortable in the water.
The freshman played in all four quarters against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, recording 10 saves in a 15-3 UCLA victory.

With eight freshmen on the team’s roster, the young group has had to work hard to ensure that the team is moving toward a single objective: working as one unit to achieve victory.

Coach Brandon Brooks is pleased with the way his new team is coming along.

“The freshmen are a talented group, and we are happy to have them combining with the already great group of talented players that we have,” Brooks said. “I think they are mixing in nicely and (I’m) proud of the way our older girls have accepted them (and) of how the freshmen have integrated themselves.”

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Sami Hill acknowledged the importance of having experienced players but also pointed out the need for the freshmen to step up and play at a high level this season.

“It is a big freshman class that is a major part of our team now,” Hill said.

“We (have to) help them become a part of our Bruin team because they are not used to it yet, and I think that is going to be our biggest thing from last year because last year we had a lot of seniority and this year the freshmen have to play a big role.”

Sophomore attacker Emily Donohoe relates to the nerves her freshman teammates are feeling because she experienced similar anxiety last year.

“Last year, I was playing a little shaky because I was a freshman (and) I was still trying to figure out how to play,” said Donohoe, who has had a breakout season.

“After a year of experiencing and playing with the girls … going into this year I had more confidence.”

The team unity this season has helped the new faces get acquainted with the rest of the squad and has helped the players communicate with each other better.

“Everyone is so close (and) everyone works so hard together and promotes each other to work hard,” Musselman said. “I really like it; it’s like really good team chemistry.”

Email Vasquez at [email protected].

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