USC
Loyola Marymount
No. 1 USC Tops LMU 18-9 In Season Opener
February 01, 2007 | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 1, 2007
WESTCHESTER, CALIF. -- The top-ranked USC women's water polo team made a scoring statement in its season opener, posting an 18-9 victory over No. 11 Loyola Marymount on Thursday afternoon at the Lions' pool. USC now holds a 1-0 record as it turns to face an eight-team field at the 2007 Stanford Invitational this weekend. USC is bracketed with No. 7 Arizona State, No. 3 Stanford and No. 10 San Jose State as the Trojans seek to defend their tournament title.
Against the Lions on Thursday, the Trojans built a mild lead and then ballooned it with a solid second period. Leading 3-1 at the close of the first period, the Women of Troy pumped in five goals before halftime to lead 8-2. Five goals became the theme of the next two periods as well, as nine different players wound up getting to the back of the cage for USC. Erika Figge led the way with four goals, and Alexandra Kiss and Brittany Hayes each added a hat trick for the Trojans. Kami Craig and Miranda Nichols also tacked up multiple-goal games to start 2007 with a pair apiece. Patty Cardenas, Veronika Bartunkova, Carolyn Conway and Kally Lucas all joined in the scoring effort. Kiss and Lucas both registered their first career scores at Troy, as the freshman joined the Trojan roster this season.
The Lions picked up their scoring pace in the second half, getting four goals in the third period and then three in the fourth. Still, USC's hot-handed start to 2007 kept the Trojans well ahead, as they ended the game with their highest scoring effort ever against LMU. Starting in the cage for the Women of Troy was returning goalie Whitney Morgan, who had three saves in her three periods of action. Freshman Tumua Anae stepped in in the fourth period, grabbing two saves in her first appearance for the Trojans.
USC now heads to the Stanford Invitational, kicking off the tournament with a 9:40 a.m. game against No. 7 Arizona State on Saturday (Feb. 3).
No. 1 USC 18, No. 11 LMU 9
USC 3 - 5 - 5 - 5 -- 18
LMU 1 - 1 - 4 - 3 -- 9
SCORING:
USC -- Erika Figge 4, Alexandra Kiss 3, Brittany Hayes 3, Kami Craig 2, Miranda Nicholas 2, Patty Cardenas, Veronika Bartunkova, Carolyn Conway, Kally Lucas.
LMU -- Katie Hicks 2, Sarah Hamilton 2, Dora Szabolcsi, Stacia Peterson, Kellen Fletcher, Nicole Hughes, Crisara Abrams.
SAVES:
Whitney Morgan (USC) 3, Tumua Anae (USC) 2, Kaylee Caster (LMU) 6, Eliana Arellano (LMU) 1.
