No. 1 USC Women's Water Polo Set For MPSF Championship Game With Win Over No. 4 California

Saturday, April 11

Berkeley, Calif.

12:45 p.m.

USC

22-2

California

14-6

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	Final F
California (W)	2	4	3	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14
USC (W)	3	4	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17

No. 1 USC Women's Water Polo Set For MPSF Championship Game With Win Over No. 4 California

April 11, 2026 | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

BERKELEY, Calif. - The top-ranked USC women's water polo team opened MPSF Tournament play with a hard-fought win over No. 4 California, using a strong second half and key counterattack goals to pull away in a high-scoring matchup.

#1 USC 17, #4 California 14
California struck first on a 6-on-5 opportunity and went on to take a 2-0 lead. USC responded as Morgan Netherton and Sinia Plotz found the back of the cage to even things up, while Alma Yaacobi converted a penalty to give the Trojans the lead. Meghan McAninch added multiple steals to help disrupt California's offense, but the Bears held a slight edge at the end of the first quarter.

USC began to find its rhythm in the second. Emily Ausmus and Maggie Johnson each capitalized on power play opportunities to tie the game, while Anna Reed came up with key saves in the cage to keep it close. Despite the Trojans' push, California answered late to send the game into halftime in a tight battle.

Out of the break, USC took control. Ava Stryker and Morgan Netherton converted on penalty and 6-on-5 chances, while Rachel Gazzaniga added a power play goal to extend the lead. The Trojans continued to generate stops defensively with field blocks and steals, allowing them to maintain momentum even as California stayed within striking distance.

In the fourth, USC closed it out with composure. Ausmus delivered back-to-back counterattack goals to stop a California run, and McAninch added two late scores to create separation. Yaacobi capped the scoring in the final minute, while Reed and the Trojan defense held strong down the stretch to secure the opening MPSF Tournament win.

Notables

This is the seventh game this season USC has had four or more players record a hat trick
The win is the Trojans' seventh win over a top five opponent
Ava Stryker recorded a team high six points on two goals and four assists
The Women of Troy recorded 11 steals with Meghan McAninch and Rachel Gazzaniga each recording a pair

Scoring: Morgan Netherton (3), Alma Yaacobi (3), Emily Ausmus (3), Meghan McAninch (3), Ava Stryker (2), Sinia Plotz (1), Maggie Johnson (1), Rachel Gazzaniga (1)

Saves: Anna Reed (7)

Up Next
The Trojans will face Stanford tomorrow in the MPSF Championship game, which is set for 2:30 p.m..