This post was updated Feb. 9 at 1:50 p.m.

A trap game is an overlooked match against a lesser opponent, often with a bigger match looming on the horizon.

For many teams, that false sense of security can be the ultimate trial.

No. 2 UCLA women’s water polo (7-0) passed the test, taking down No. 12 UC Irvine (3-7) with a 15-10 victory on Saturday at Spieker Aquatics Center, extending its all-time record against the Anteaters to 36-0. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing, as the Bruins conceded a season-high seven first-half goals.

Fresh off a 12-9 victory over then-No. 2 USC, and with the historic Barbara Kalbus Invitational the following weekend, Saturday’s home opener tested the Bruins’ focus and fortitude.

“The goal was to start in a hard press, and I don’t think we did a good job of that in the first half,” said interim co-head coach Jason Falitz. “We were letting the ball move freely around the perimeter.”

The Bruins and the Anteaters traded goals throughout the first two quarters.

With the score tied at seven and a minute left in the first half, Bia Mantellato won a loose ball in front of the cage and tossed it into the back of the net. The senior center paced both teams with four goals and three exclusions drawn.

Following a missed shot by the Anteaters, junior goalkeeper Lauren Steele came out of the goal to give the Bruins a seven-on-six advantage for the final possession of the half. She nailed an outside shot with the clock winding down to give UCLA a 9-7 halftime lead.

“I told them to reset at halftime,” Falitz said. “They came out and played with better energy in our press, which puts more pressure on teams and allows our defense to be more successful.”

The Bruins came out of the break transformed.

UCLA forced seven turnovers and allowed three goals, actualizing the press that Falitz had planned. UCI’s ballhandlers were met with pressure and a hand in their face during the second half, eliminating the open perimeter shots they found in the first half.

“We were pretty quiet in the water and not really communicating well,” Montellato said. “Seven goals is a lot in one half, and that’s very far from who we want to be. We did a better job (in the second half) communicating and working together on defense to get good stops.”

Defense turned into offense, and UCLA found multiple goals in transition after steals.

Senior attacker Taylor Smith – who entered the game as the team’s leading scorer – continued her offensive success, tallying three goals and three assists. Sophomore attacker Jenna Human was another key contributor, scoring two goals and dishing out assists to both Smith and Mantellato.

“They (Mantellato and Smith) make my job a lot easier. With them scoring and being able to pull people out, the cage is bigger,” Human said. “There’s not as many blocks, and it’s an easier read for me. When they do their job, it becomes a lot easier.”

Eight Bruins tallied a goal on Saturday, and Smith led the team with two steals.

Despite surrendering nine exclusions in the match, only two of the shorthanded opportunities resulted in goals. When it mattered most, the defense stood their ground – and so did Steele, who made three critical saves while the Bruins were shorthanded.

“We don’t want to take exclusions away from the ball, which we did. Some of these defensive lapses are frustrating, but our five-on-six as a whole has been pretty good this season,” Falitz said. “If you’re holding people to 20% to 30%, you’re probably in good shape.”

UCI laid an effective trap, shooting 36% on offense and blocking six shots from the field. But an experienced veteran Bruin squad was ready for it and came out of the second half with smothering defensive adjustments.

The Bruins must now build off this weekend as they continue to find their team unity and cohesion.

“We’re excited to get better. I’m glad we made mistakes today,” Falitz said. “We’re going to learn from it and hopefully come back. We need to have four really good days of training.”