Friday, May 10
Stanford, CA
12:00 PM
USC
14
vs
8
UC San Diego
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water PoloPhoto by: Catharyn Hayne
Top-Seeded Trojans Top UC San Diego To Move Into NCAA Semis
May 10, 2019 | Women's Water Polo, Features
Nine Trojans score to build out a 14-8 win in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
PALO ALTO, CALIF. — The top-seeded USC women's water polo team worked through a tight first half before unleashing six unanswered goals in the third to power up for a place in tomorrow NCAA Semifinals with a 14-8 quarterfinal victory over UC San Diego today. The Trojans splashed down at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center with eyes on making program history if USC can successfully defend their 2018 national title. The road to back-to-back titles isn't easy, however, as evident in the Tritons' efforts to deter the Trojans today. But USC's dominant third frame was the key, and the Trojans improved to 27-1 overall with the win over the Tritons.
UC San Diego scored the opening goal after the Trojans had hit only the crossbar and posts in the opening stretch of the first. With 2:32 on the clock, Maud Megens broke the Trojan silence with a ripper, and Alejandra added to the count with a slider soon after to slip USC into the lead at 2-1. Aznar earned a power play for the Trojans next, and found Denise Mammolito for a blast that notched the junior's 100th career goal and made it 3-1 USC. Amanda Longan snuffed a Triton 6-on-5 to close the first with USC up 3-1. In the second, though, UC San Diego followed up an early rocket from Paige Hauschild with back-to-back goals — a 6-on-5 finish and a 5-meter penalty shot — to make it a one-goal game again. Elise Stein found the top corner next for USC before UCSD got one back again with a score from distance. In the final minute of the half, Bayley Weber earned a 6-on-5 for USC, and Verica Bakoc hit Kelsey McIntosh for the finish to tug the Trojans ahead 6-4 by halftime.
The Trojans locked focus in the third, coming out with a one-two punch from Aznar, whose back-to-back goals got the freshman to a hat trick while also sparking USC's 6-0 surge in the frame. The Trojans were a perfect 6-for-6 on power plays and also netted a 5-meter penalty from Megens en route to a 12-4 lead entering the fourth. Longan gave way to Holly Parker in the cage for the final frame, while USC worked out to a 14-5 lead as Bakoc and Stein delivered on the offensive end for their second goals of the day. By the final buzzer, USC was gripping a 14-8 final victory over the Tritons to secure advancement in the tourney.
USC now moves into tomorrow's 3 p.m. semifinal against either No. 4 seed Cal or No. 5 seed Hawai'i at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE WOMEN'S WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS (Palo Alto, Calif.)
QUARTERFINALS
[1] USC vs. UC San Diego
May 10, 2019 | Avery Aquatic Center (Palo Alto, Calif.)
USC 3 - 3 - 6 - 2 = 14
UCSD 1 - 3 - 0 - 4 = 8
SCORING:
USC — Alejandra Aznar 3, Maud Megens 2, Verica Bakoc 2, Elise Stein 2, Denise Mammolito, Paige Hauschild, Kelsey McIntosh, Bayley Weber, Grace Tehaney.
UCSD — Grace Pevehouse 5, Chanel Schilling, Shelby Stender, Sydney Boland.
SAVES: Amanda Longan (USC) 7 [3 periods], Holly Parker (USC) 1 [4th period], Bennett Bugelli (UCSD) 4 [3 periods], Reilly Gallagher (UCSD) 0 [4th period].
UC San Diego scored the opening goal after the Trojans had hit only the crossbar and posts in the opening stretch of the first. With 2:32 on the clock, Maud Megens broke the Trojan silence with a ripper, and Alejandra added to the count with a slider soon after to slip USC into the lead at 2-1. Aznar earned a power play for the Trojans next, and found Denise Mammolito for a blast that notched the junior's 100th career goal and made it 3-1 USC. Amanda Longan snuffed a Triton 6-on-5 to close the first with USC up 3-1. In the second, though, UC San Diego followed up an early rocket from Paige Hauschild with back-to-back goals — a 6-on-5 finish and a 5-meter penalty shot — to make it a one-goal game again. Elise Stein found the top corner next for USC before UCSD got one back again with a score from distance. In the final minute of the half, Bayley Weber earned a 6-on-5 for USC, and Verica Bakoc hit Kelsey McIntosh for the finish to tug the Trojans ahead 6-4 by halftime.
The Trojans locked focus in the third, coming out with a one-two punch from Aznar, whose back-to-back goals got the freshman to a hat trick while also sparking USC's 6-0 surge in the frame. The Trojans were a perfect 6-for-6 on power plays and also netted a 5-meter penalty from Megens en route to a 12-4 lead entering the fourth. Longan gave way to Holly Parker in the cage for the final frame, while USC worked out to a 14-5 lead as Bakoc and Stein delivered on the offensive end for their second goals of the day. By the final buzzer, USC was gripping a 14-8 final victory over the Tritons to secure advancement in the tourney.
USC now moves into tomorrow's 3 p.m. semifinal against either No. 4 seed Cal or No. 5 seed Hawai'i at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE WOMEN'S WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS (Palo Alto, Calif.)
QUARTERFINALS
[1] USC vs. UC San Diego
May 10, 2019 | Avery Aquatic Center (Palo Alto, Calif.)
USC 3 - 3 - 6 - 2 = 14
UCSD 1 - 3 - 0 - 4 = 8
SCORING:
USC — Alejandra Aznar 3, Maud Megens 2, Verica Bakoc 2, Elise Stein 2, Denise Mammolito, Paige Hauschild, Kelsey McIntosh, Bayley Weber, Grace Tehaney.
UCSD — Grace Pevehouse 5, Chanel Schilling, Shelby Stender, Sydney Boland.
SAVES: Amanda Longan (USC) 7 [3 periods], Holly Parker (USC) 1 [4th period], Bennett Bugelli (UCSD) 4 [3 periods], Reilly Gallagher (UCSD) 0 [4th period].
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