Saturday, March 16
Honolulu, Hawaii
9:00 PM
USC
at
Hawai'i
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
DEF
/ Women's Water Polo
C
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DR
/ Women's Water Polo
DEF
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
C
/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
Photo by: John McGillen
No. 5 USC Women’s Water Polo Takes Seven-Game Win Streak To No. 4 Hawai’i
March 13, 2024 | Women's Water Polo
Trojans look for revenge against the Rainbow Wahine in a Saturday night game in Honolulu.
#5 USC (13-3) at #4 Hawai'i (12-3)
Saturday, March 16 | 9 p.m. PT
Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex | Honolulu
Series Record (since 1997): USC leads 50-4 (L1)
Last Meeting: UH 10, USC 6 (Feb. 2, 2024)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 5 USC is off to Hawai'i this week looking to avenge an earlier loss to the Rainbow Wahine, The Trojans (13-3) and the Wahine (12-3) clash at 9 p.m. PT on Saturday (March 16) at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Center in Honolulu.
RANKINGS
USC opened up 2024 tied at No. 1 in the national rankings. After the first week of action, the Trojans stood alone at the top. In the latest round of rankings (released March 13), USC currently stands at No. 5 in the nation.
LAST ACTION
USC faced a brand-new opponent in the Trojans' first home game of the year, welcoming Saint Francis to Uytengsu Aquatics Center with a 22-6 win over the Red Flash. Ten Trojans scored in the well-balanced win to go to 13-3 overall this season, Led by a four-goal outburst from freshman Ava Stryker along with hat tricks from Julia Janov, Alexandra Aznar and Rachel Gazzaniga. USC stuck six straight scores on the board to open things, with Emma Lawson going back-to-back to net that early 6-0 advantage. SFU broke through before the end of the frame, only to see USC rattle off five more goals in the second with Stryker punching up a pair as USC led it 10-2 for halftime. Gazzaniga's hat trick was in place during the third, while Morgan Netherton, Molly Glad and Hannah Carver joined the scoresheet for the Trojans as they worked out ahead 15-5. Laine Hourigan had stepped into the cage for Carolyne Stern at halftime, and USC's staunch defense had another strong hand to back it up for the final 16 minutes. Only one Red Flash shot would get through in the fourth, and the USC offense clicked off another 6-0 surge to put SFU in a deeper hole. Netherton had the final word of this one, finishing off a late USC 6-on-5 to round out the 22-6 Trojan victory.
NOTABLE:
- With three goals scored, Gazzaniga continues to lead USC in scoring, now with with 33 goals this season, followed by SR Alejandra Aznar with 32.
- With three goals, Aznar now ranks No. 23 all-time in scoring at USC with 131 career goals.
- With a game-high four goals, FR Ava Stryker has now scored at least one goal in USC's last 10 games.
- With their goals vs SFU, Stryker, Gazzaniga and SR Julia Janov, have now each scored in a team-high 14 games this season.
- Gazzaniga and Janov lead USC with 10 multiple-goal games apiece this season.
- This was the first-ever meeting between USC and Saint Francis.
BY THE NUMBERS
Now 16 games deep into 2024, USC's balanced scoring charge is led by Rachel Gazzaniga with 33 goals, followed by Alejandra Aznar and Ava Stryker with 32 each, and Julia Janov with 29. In all, 17 Trojans have scored at least one goal to date, including six with their first goals as Trojans. Defensively, three USC goalies have factored into the 13-3 start, led by senior Carolyne Stern. Stern is averaging 8.7 saves per game thanks in part to her four double-digit save outings this year. USC's other two goalies — Laine Hourigan and Jada Ward — are in their second season of action as Trojans. Overall, the group averages 8.1 saves per game to anchor a Trojan defense giving up just 7.2 goals per game. USC has outscored opponents 221-115 so far, while holding teams scoreless in 10 different periods to date.
CAREER CLIMBERS
Two Trojans are on the rise in the USC history books with their work this season. Goalie Carolyne Stern has moved up to No. 5 all-time among USC goalies, now holding 498 career saves to stand just behind No. 4 Tumua Anae's 534 saves from 2007-10. Alejandra Aznar, meanwhile, Is up to No. 23 all-time in career scoring with 131 goals —four goals shy of tying No. 22 Joelle Bekhazi's total of 135 from 2009-11.
OVERSEAS ACHIEVERS
International experience has been key to USC's development of versatile players. The USA pipeline has crafted a number of outstanding Trojans — past, present and future, including Team USA's Emily Ausmus, who deferred her freshman enrollment at USC in order to train for the 2024 Olympics. Many other U.S. pipeline products will be capped up for USC this season, including Morgan Netherton, Rachel Gazzaniga and Ava Stryker, who competed for the USA at Junior Worlds this past summer. Abigail Hendrix, Maggie Johnson, Meghan McAninch, Hannah Meyer, Carolyne Stern, Honnie Vandeweghe-O'Shea, and Isabel Zimmerman also have capped up for the USA at the Youth level. Outside of the United States, several returning Trojans have also gathered international experience with other nations — Alejandra Aznar (Spain), Julia Janov (Slovakia), Emma Lawson (Canada), Fanni Muzsnay (Hungary), Jelena Sarac (Serbia).
CENTER STAGE
USC is without one decorated Trojan international for 2024, as Olympian and Cutino Award finalist Tilly Kearns is training with Australia for the 2024 Olympic Games. That leaves a void at the center position for this season, but head coach Casey Moon has tapped into his handy toolkit in order to adjust. In addition to the proven work done at set by senior Hannah Meyer, Moon has eyes on incorporating newcomer national teamer Rachel Gazzaniga along with sophomore Alex Bonaguidi for increased action, with new addition Madison Haaland-Ford also in the mix at the center slot.
ON THE ATTACK
In the field, USC is fueled by an arsenal of attackers along with deft defenders to go along with its center play. Molly Glad, Abigail Hendrix, Emma Lawson, Jelena Sarac and Honnie Vandeweghe-O'Shea are tabbed for duty on the defensive end, while also set to take aim offensively from the perimeter. USC's onslaught of attackers features newcomers Meghan McAninch and Ava Stryker to go along with veterans Alejandra Aznar, Julia Janov and Fanni Muzsnay, who combined for 88 goals last season. As freshmen, attackers Maggie Johnson and Morgan Netherton pinned up a combine 34 goals. All versatile tools in Moon's box of tricks, the USC attacking core also includes Brooklyn Aguilera, Hannah Carver, Caitlin Cohen, Sally McCarthy, and Isabel Zimmerman.
BACK IN ACTION
USC boasts nine returners from USC's 2023 NCAA roster, which reached the NCAA final in the program's 19th straight trip to the postseason to finish with a 29-3 overall record. Maggie Johnson and Morgan Netherton were freshmen on that squad, bringing back key lessons learned along with the other seven members of the returning group that was on deck for that NCAA journey — Brooklyn Aguilera, Alejandra Aznar, Molly Glad, Abigail Hendrix, Hannah Meyer, Carolyne Stern, Honnie Vandeweghe-O'Shea, Jada Ward and Isabel Zimmerman.
CAPTAIN'S SALUTE
Goalie Carolyne Stern is joined by Julia Janov and Maggie Johnson as team captains for 2024. All were instrumental in USC's NCAA run last season, and Janov and Stern are now entering their fourth season playing together. That combined experience and leadership ability gives coach Moon the utmost confidence in his three captains, who are charged with setting the tone and the course for the Trojans in 2024.
CAGE FIGHTERS
A 2023 All-American, Carolyne Stern enters her final season between the pipes. She's been a steadying and reliable force in the cage for USC, thanks in part to the talented younger goalies in the water with her every day. Sophomore Jada Ward and redshirt sophomore Laine Hourigan both served as outstanding backups for Stern last year, and they are joined by two true freshmen this season in Anna Reed and Lauren Schneider to round out a formidable goalkeeping corps for the 2024 Trojans. In her first weekend of work, Stern surged to now rank as USC's No. 6 all-time saves leader, now with 403 career saves to her name as a Trojan.
LAST SEASON
In 2023, USC went 28-3 overall in a season that saw the Trojans make a 19th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. USC posted a perfect 6-0 mark in MPSF competition before taking second place in the MPSF Tournament and later reaching a fifth consecutive NCAA final, where USC lost to Stanford. At the close of the season, Tilly Kearns was selected as a finalist for the Peter J. Cutino Award for the second straight season. She also was a First Team All-American along with Paige Hauschild and Bayley Weber. They were joined by fellow All-Americans Carolyne Stern (Honorable Mention) and Grace Tehaney (Honorable Mention). Head coach Marko Pintaric was named MPSF Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season, and Weber was named MPSF Player of the Year. •
Saturday, March 16 | 9 p.m. PT
Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex | Honolulu
Series Record (since 1997): USC leads 50-4 (L1)
Last Meeting: UH 10, USC 6 (Feb. 2, 2024)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 5 USC is off to Hawai'i this week looking to avenge an earlier loss to the Rainbow Wahine, The Trojans (13-3) and the Wahine (12-3) clash at 9 p.m. PT on Saturday (March 16) at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Center in Honolulu.
RANKINGS
USC opened up 2024 tied at No. 1 in the national rankings. After the first week of action, the Trojans stood alone at the top. In the latest round of rankings (released March 13), USC currently stands at No. 5 in the nation.
LAST ACTION
USC faced a brand-new opponent in the Trojans' first home game of the year, welcoming Saint Francis to Uytengsu Aquatics Center with a 22-6 win over the Red Flash. Ten Trojans scored in the well-balanced win to go to 13-3 overall this season, Led by a four-goal outburst from freshman Ava Stryker along with hat tricks from Julia Janov, Alexandra Aznar and Rachel Gazzaniga. USC stuck six straight scores on the board to open things, with Emma Lawson going back-to-back to net that early 6-0 advantage. SFU broke through before the end of the frame, only to see USC rattle off five more goals in the second with Stryker punching up a pair as USC led it 10-2 for halftime. Gazzaniga's hat trick was in place during the third, while Morgan Netherton, Molly Glad and Hannah Carver joined the scoresheet for the Trojans as they worked out ahead 15-5. Laine Hourigan had stepped into the cage for Carolyne Stern at halftime, and USC's staunch defense had another strong hand to back it up for the final 16 minutes. Only one Red Flash shot would get through in the fourth, and the USC offense clicked off another 6-0 surge to put SFU in a deeper hole. Netherton had the final word of this one, finishing off a late USC 6-on-5 to round out the 22-6 Trojan victory.
NOTABLE:
- With three goals scored, Gazzaniga continues to lead USC in scoring, now with with 33 goals this season, followed by SR Alejandra Aznar with 32.
- With three goals, Aznar now ranks No. 23 all-time in scoring at USC with 131 career goals.
- With a game-high four goals, FR Ava Stryker has now scored at least one goal in USC's last 10 games.
- With their goals vs SFU, Stryker, Gazzaniga and SR Julia Janov, have now each scored in a team-high 14 games this season.
- Gazzaniga and Janov lead USC with 10 multiple-goal games apiece this season.
- This was the first-ever meeting between USC and Saint Francis.
BY THE NUMBERS
Now 16 games deep into 2024, USC's balanced scoring charge is led by Rachel Gazzaniga with 33 goals, followed by Alejandra Aznar and Ava Stryker with 32 each, and Julia Janov with 29. In all, 17 Trojans have scored at least one goal to date, including six with their first goals as Trojans. Defensively, three USC goalies have factored into the 13-3 start, led by senior Carolyne Stern. Stern is averaging 8.7 saves per game thanks in part to her four double-digit save outings this year. USC's other two goalies — Laine Hourigan and Jada Ward — are in their second season of action as Trojans. Overall, the group averages 8.1 saves per game to anchor a Trojan defense giving up just 7.2 goals per game. USC has outscored opponents 221-115 so far, while holding teams scoreless in 10 different periods to date.
CAREER CLIMBERS
Two Trojans are on the rise in the USC history books with their work this season. Goalie Carolyne Stern has moved up to No. 5 all-time among USC goalies, now holding 498 career saves to stand just behind No. 4 Tumua Anae's 534 saves from 2007-10. Alejandra Aznar, meanwhile, Is up to No. 23 all-time in career scoring with 131 goals —four goals shy of tying No. 22 Joelle Bekhazi's total of 135 from 2009-11.
OVERSEAS ACHIEVERS
International experience has been key to USC's development of versatile players. The USA pipeline has crafted a number of outstanding Trojans — past, present and future, including Team USA's Emily Ausmus, who deferred her freshman enrollment at USC in order to train for the 2024 Olympics. Many other U.S. pipeline products will be capped up for USC this season, including Morgan Netherton, Rachel Gazzaniga and Ava Stryker, who competed for the USA at Junior Worlds this past summer. Abigail Hendrix, Maggie Johnson, Meghan McAninch, Hannah Meyer, Carolyne Stern, Honnie Vandeweghe-O'Shea, and Isabel Zimmerman also have capped up for the USA at the Youth level. Outside of the United States, several returning Trojans have also gathered international experience with other nations — Alejandra Aznar (Spain), Julia Janov (Slovakia), Emma Lawson (Canada), Fanni Muzsnay (Hungary), Jelena Sarac (Serbia).
CENTER STAGE
USC is without one decorated Trojan international for 2024, as Olympian and Cutino Award finalist Tilly Kearns is training with Australia for the 2024 Olympic Games. That leaves a void at the center position for this season, but head coach Casey Moon has tapped into his handy toolkit in order to adjust. In addition to the proven work done at set by senior Hannah Meyer, Moon has eyes on incorporating newcomer national teamer Rachel Gazzaniga along with sophomore Alex Bonaguidi for increased action, with new addition Madison Haaland-Ford also in the mix at the center slot.
ON THE ATTACK
In the field, USC is fueled by an arsenal of attackers along with deft defenders to go along with its center play. Molly Glad, Abigail Hendrix, Emma Lawson, Jelena Sarac and Honnie Vandeweghe-O'Shea are tabbed for duty on the defensive end, while also set to take aim offensively from the perimeter. USC's onslaught of attackers features newcomers Meghan McAninch and Ava Stryker to go along with veterans Alejandra Aznar, Julia Janov and Fanni Muzsnay, who combined for 88 goals last season. As freshmen, attackers Maggie Johnson and Morgan Netherton pinned up a combine 34 goals. All versatile tools in Moon's box of tricks, the USC attacking core also includes Brooklyn Aguilera, Hannah Carver, Caitlin Cohen, Sally McCarthy, and Isabel Zimmerman.
BACK IN ACTION
USC boasts nine returners from USC's 2023 NCAA roster, which reached the NCAA final in the program's 19th straight trip to the postseason to finish with a 29-3 overall record. Maggie Johnson and Morgan Netherton were freshmen on that squad, bringing back key lessons learned along with the other seven members of the returning group that was on deck for that NCAA journey — Brooklyn Aguilera, Alejandra Aznar, Molly Glad, Abigail Hendrix, Hannah Meyer, Carolyne Stern, Honnie Vandeweghe-O'Shea, Jada Ward and Isabel Zimmerman.
CAPTAIN'S SALUTE
Goalie Carolyne Stern is joined by Julia Janov and Maggie Johnson as team captains for 2024. All were instrumental in USC's NCAA run last season, and Janov and Stern are now entering their fourth season playing together. That combined experience and leadership ability gives coach Moon the utmost confidence in his three captains, who are charged with setting the tone and the course for the Trojans in 2024.
CAGE FIGHTERS
A 2023 All-American, Carolyne Stern enters her final season between the pipes. She's been a steadying and reliable force in the cage for USC, thanks in part to the talented younger goalies in the water with her every day. Sophomore Jada Ward and redshirt sophomore Laine Hourigan both served as outstanding backups for Stern last year, and they are joined by two true freshmen this season in Anna Reed and Lauren Schneider to round out a formidable goalkeeping corps for the 2024 Trojans. In her first weekend of work, Stern surged to now rank as USC's No. 6 all-time saves leader, now with 403 career saves to her name as a Trojan.
LAST SEASON
In 2023, USC went 28-3 overall in a season that saw the Trojans make a 19th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. USC posted a perfect 6-0 mark in MPSF competition before taking second place in the MPSF Tournament and later reaching a fifth consecutive NCAA final, where USC lost to Stanford. At the close of the season, Tilly Kearns was selected as a finalist for the Peter J. Cutino Award for the second straight season. She also was a First Team All-American along with Paige Hauschild and Bayley Weber. They were joined by fellow All-Americans Carolyne Stern (Honorable Mention) and Grace Tehaney (Honorable Mention). Head coach Marko Pintaric was named MPSF Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season, and Weber was named MPSF Player of the Year. •
USC Water Polo's Emily Ausmus | Trojans Live 3.24.25
Monday, March 24
Women's Water Polo - Stanford 8, USC 3: Highlights (5/10/24)
Friday, May 10
Julia Janov - 2024 NCAA Women's Water Polo Banquet speech
Thursday, May 09
Women's Water Polo - Stanford 12, USC 11: Highlights (4/28/24)
Sunday, April 28
