Top-Ranked Trojans Open Season With Two Wins

Friday, January 18

Santa Barbara, CA

2:00 PM

USC

California Baptist

Top-Ranked Trojans Open Season With Two Wins

January 18, 2019 | Women's Water Polo, Features

UCSB WINTER INVITATIONAL

USC freshmen combine for 21 goals in their first day of action as Trojans.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. — The No. 1 USC women's water polo team whipped up two decisive wins to kick off its 2019 campaign, beating Cal Baptist 25-5 and Azusa Pacific 19-4 on the first day of action at the UCSB Winter Invitational in Santa Barbara. Newcomer Alejandra Aznar went big in her Trojan debut with five first-half goals in the win over the Lancers, and junior Denise Mammolito also churned out five in the win over Azusa Pacific. Against CBU, senior goalie Amanda Longan hauled in a career-high 19 saves, notching the second most single-game saves on record by a Trojan goalie .

Against Cal Baptist in the season opener, USC tacked up the first five goals of the game — all from the hands of newcomers. The first goal of the year came from Mireia Guiral, whose fellow Spaniard Alejandra Aznar drilled three goals in that 5-0 start. Fellow freshman Grace Tehaney also got to the back of the net in that surge before another freshman — Bayley Weber scored her first of a first-period hat trick to help USC along to a 10-2 lead after eight minutes of action. That 10th goal was also served up by a fresh face in Tilly Kearns, while the final two of the day came from new Trojans as well. Freshmen Sophia Lucas and Claire Haas would tally their first career USC goals in their first appearances in Cardinal and Gold to get in on the winning start to 2019. Aznar finished up with five goals to lead the pack, while junior Maud Megens plugged in four. Freshmen Tehaney and Weber had a hat trick apiece in that opening win over Cal Baptist, while senior goalie Amanda Longan knocked down a career-high 19 saves.

Against Azusa Pacific, USC was out to an even more powerful start, taking an 11-0 halftime lead before APU broke through in the third. Mammolito had the hot hand in this one with a five-goal outburst, with Megens again in fine scoring form with three. Elise Stein also had a hat trick, while USC had a trio of Trojans score their first goals of the year with a pair from Courtney Fahey, one from Kari Jensen and a career first for freshman Julia Rozolis-Hill. Goalie Holly Parker went the distance in this one, making eight saves down the stretch.

USC continues action at the Gaucho Invitational tomorrow (Jan. 19), facing Michigan at 10:30 a.m. and Fresno State at 2:45 p.m. out in Santa Barbara.

2019 UCSB WINTER INVITATIONAL

#1 USC 25, Cal Baptist 5
Jan. 18, 2019 | Santa Barbara, Calif.
USC 10 - 9 - 3 - 3 = 25
CBU 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 5

SCORING:
USC — Alejandra Aznar 5, Maud Megens 4, Grace Tehaney 3, Bayley Weber 3, Paige Hauschild 2, Tilly Kearns 2, Mireia Guiral, Denise Mammolito, Verica Bakoc, Kaylee Brownsberger, Sophia Lucas, Claire Haas.
CBU — Lizette Perez 2, Taralyn De Leeuw, Katie Quon, Megan Henry.

SAVES: Amanda Longan (USC) 19, Cal Baptist n/a.

#1 USC 19, Azusa Pacific 4
Jan. 18, 2019 | Santa Barbara, Calif.
USC 9 - 2 - 4 - 4 = 19
APU 0 - 0 - 1 - 3 = 4

SCORING:
USC — Denise Mammolito 5, Maud Megens 3, Elise Stein 3, Courtney Fahey 2, Mireia Guiral, Bayley Weber, Tilly Kearns, Kari Jensen, Sophia Lucas, Julia Rozolis-Hill
APU — Gabrielle Martinez 2, Lauren Hoyle, Arianne Murray.

SAVES: Holly Parker (USC) 8, Azusa Pacific n/a