Stanford and USC to Clash for NCAA Women’s Water Polo Title
Stanford and USC will meet for the fourth time this season on Sunday, the latest matchup to determine the champion of the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Tournament. Stanford and USC advanced to the final with semifinal victories during Saturday action at the Indiana University Natatorium.
After Stanford dispatched Hawaii, 13-4, USC earned a 15-13 win over defending champion UCLA. Stanford is chasing the 10th NCAA title in program history while USC, seeded third, will seek its seventh national championship. The Cardinal and Trojans have met three times already this season, with Stanford winning two of the meetings.
The title match will be aired live on ESPNU at noon (Eastern) on Sunday.
Semifinals
Stanford 13, Hawaii 4
Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Jenna Flynn went for a career-high six goals as top-seeded Stanford cruised into the championship game. Flynn netted the game’s first five goals and also recorded a pair of assists for the Cardinal (24-1), which is seeking its third NCAA crown in the past four seasons. Ella Woodhead added two goals for Stanford.
Serena Browne, Juliette Dhalluin, Eleanor Facey, Sophia Sanders and Ryann Neushul scored one goal apiece for Stanford, which held a 7-2 advantage at halftime. Goalie Christine Carpenter made six saves for Stanford, the only program to appear in all 24 NCAA Championships since the tournament debuted in 2001.
USC 15, UCLA 13
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A seven-goal outburst in the third quarter put Southern California comfortably ahead and the Trojans withstood a late rally by UCLA to reach its 14th title match. Tilly Kearns led USC with five goals and Rachel Gazzaniga scored three times, while goalie Anna Reed made nine saves. Ava Stryker added two goals and two assists and Maggie Johnson had a goal and two assists.
Emma Lineback accounted for five of the Bruins’ 13 goals and Bia Mantellato had two goals and two assists.