The end results may have been nearly identical, but the Bruins had opposite starts in their two games over the weekend.

On Friday, they jumped out to a 5-1 lead before the first quarter ended. Meanwhile, in Saturday’s game, the Bruins trailed 4-2 to start the quarter.

“When we come out stronger as a team in the first quarter, then that sets the tone for the rest of the game,” said freshman attacker Katherine O’Dea. “Starting at a slower pace, that makes us work even harder to accomplish our goals in the next quarters.”

But by the end of the four quarters, No. 2 UCLA women’s water polo (12-1, 2-0 MPSF) secured a 18-7 win over No. 8 Indiana (12-3, 0-2) on Friday and a 17-8 win over No. 12 Michigan (10-7, 3-0 CWPA) on Saturday at Spieker Aquatics Center. Senior utility Anna Pearson led the way with eight total goals – including six against the Wolverines, making her the third Bruin to score six goals in a single game this season.

UCLA split the workload between 11 different goal scorers in Friday’s win.

“We don’t play for one or two players or to set up one or two players,” said interim co-head coach Jason Falitz. “Our system is to read what the other team is doing and attack accordingly. So by nature, that’s going to put a lot of different people in positions to score because, again, you don’t always end up in the same spot.”

Falitz added that the game against the Hoosiers was the most energized performance his team has had this season.

After going down to 4-2 Saturday, the Bruins recovered with two goals in the final minute of the quarter to tie it up. Each team scored at the start of the second quarter, but then UCLA gained a comfortable lead, outscoring Michigan 12-3 the rest of the game.

Pearson said the team was able to regroup in between the first two quarters and relied on its defense going forward.

“Jason told us that we need to play our game,” Pearson said. “Don’t get too sped up on what the other team is doing, and stop focusing on what they’re doing and really read the situations out.”

The start wasn’t the only difference between the two weekend games.

Falitz said the team’s communication disappeared during Saturday’s game.

“Today was a bit frustrating, especially in the beginning of the game,” Falitz said. “We continue to talk about how we have to be present and ready to enter games, how we have to settle in sooner and dictate the pace of the game. But today they were not talking. Their pool was dead – so to speak. We weren’t helping each other. People didn’t know what was going on.”

Redshirt senior attacker Emma Lineback was injured in practice last week, and she required stitches for a gash above her right eye.

Falitz added that Lineback was unable to practice in the water for a few days but still wanted to compete this weekend.

“That really shows how resilient she is. She’s one of the toughest players I know,” Pearson said. “She’s the definition of a team player, for her to show up was really special for our team and sent a really big message – how we need to be tough and always keep moving forward.”

The Bruins scored 35 goals to their opponents’ 15 across both matches on the weekend.