USC
San Jose State
No. 2 USC Snags Semifinal Slot At UCI Invitational
February 27, 2010 | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 27, 2010
IRVINE, CALIF. - The No. 2 USC women's water polo team tacked up two strong wins to open up the UC Irvine Invitational and punch a ticket to tomorrow's semifinals. The Trojans landed a 12-1 win over Long Beach State in their morning match before serving up a 15-5 win over San Jose State in the afternoon today in Irvine, Calif. Thirteen different Women of Troy scored in the two games combined, as USC improved to 9-1 overall with today's victories. The Trojans now turn to tomorrow's semifinals against either Cal or Hawai'i at 11:45 a.m.
USC blasted past Long Beach State to start up the tourney, posting a 12-1 win on the hands of 10 different Trojan scorers. The USC defense - anchored by an eight-save morning by goalie Tumua Anae - allowed just one 49er goal that came in the third period after USC had taken an 8-0 lead by halftime. USC underclassmen accounted for half the Trojan scoring, led by two goals from sophomore Nadia Dan and single scores from freshmen Constance Hiller, Patricia Jancso, Chelsea Silvers and Nicolina McCall. Junior Joelle Bekhazi also registered a two-goal game for the Women of Troy.
Against San Jose State, Anae doubled her previous save count to register 16 stops against San Jose State. A high-powered USC offense pounded out seven goals in the second period as the Trojans took an 11-4 lead by halftime. USC shut out the Spartans in the third period and allowed just one goal in the fourth while moving on to a 15-5 final. Nine Trojans scored in the afternoon win, including three new scorers on the day in Kami Craig, Forel Davies and Kara-Leigh Huse. Kally Lucas led them all with a hat trick, while Craig, Van Norman, McCall and Jancso each had two for the Trojans.
The schedule for Sunday (Feb. 28) has USC in the second semifinal match at 11:45 a.m. The championship game is at 5:15 p.m. preceded by a 4 p.m. third-place game.
2010 UC IRVINE INVITATIONAL
GROUP PLAY - Feb. 27
#2 USC 12, Long Beach State 1
USC 5 - 3 - 2 - 2 = 12
LBSU 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 = 1
SCORING:
USC - Joelle Bekhazi 2, Nadia Dan 2, Kally Lucas, Alexandra Kiss, Kristen Dronberger, Sarah Van Norman, Constance Hiller, Patricia Jancso, Chelsea Silvers, Nicolina McCall.
LBSU - Melissa Matheson. SAVES: Tumua Anae (USC) 8, Kristen Stragier (LBSU) 5.
#2 USC 15, #10 San Jose State 5
USC 4 - 7 - 3 - 1 = 15
SJSU 2 - 2 - 0 - 1 = 5
SCORING:
USC - Kally Lucas 3, Kami Craig 2, Sarah Van Norman 2, Nicolina McCall 2, Patrica Jancso 2, Alexandra Kiss, Forel Davies, Kara-Leigh Huse, Kristen Dronberger.
SJSU - Kathryn Hannum 2, Kelly Stewart, Bridget McKee, Ally Waasted.
SAVES: Tumua Anae (USC) 16, Meagon Minson (SJSU) 3, Lauren Lewis (SJSU) 2.
