Courtesy: USC Athletics
LOS ANGELES – The No. 1 USC women’s water polo team pinned up its 11th consecutive victory behind a strong second period of play as the Trojans put visiting No. 11 Arizona State out of reach en route to an 18-13 win at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. USC unleashed six goals — four from Morgan Netherton — in the second frame to take control, building momentum to claim the Trojans’ 25th victory of the season. USC is now 25-1 overall and 4-0 in MPSF play.
The Sun Devils struck first on an early 6-on-5 opportunity before USC tacked up three straight goals. ASU pulled back even at 3-3 before Emily Ausmus delivered her second goal for a go-ahead blast that was soon followed by a counterattack finish from Rachel Gazzaniga, and USC would stay out ahead the rest of the way. Up 5-4 at the end of the first, USC saw Netherton hit a hat trick in just over a minute to craft an 8-4 lead that Ava Stryker added to with a power play blast. By the halftime buzzer, USC had an 11-6 advantage on the board.
In the third, it was a USC sophomore surge. Meghan McAninch wrapped two goals around another Stryker score to net a 14-6 USC lead. Goalie Anna Reed ended the frame with strong save to preserve a 14-7 margin entering the fourth. Alma Yaacobi’s third goal of the day was followed by a sizzler from Isabel Zimmerman, and Ausmus got her third soon after to build an 18-9 USC lead. The Sun Devils heated up next, however, scoring the last four goals of the game as the final score landed at 18-13 in the Trojans’ favor.
NEXT:
USC’s final home game of the season is tomorrow (April 13) as the top-ranked Trojans host No. 13 San José State at 1 p.m. at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. USC will also celebrate its five graduating Trojans in a Senior Day ceremony prior to the game.
NOTABLE:
– With three goals today, FR Emily Ausmus has now scored in all 26 games this season, and has recorded multiple-goal games in 25 of USC’s 26 games this season.
– FR Alma Yaacobi tied her career high with three goals scored today.
– SO Ava Stryker has scored in 25 of USC’s 26 games this season, with two goals today.
– Ausmus, Stryker and SR Tilly Kearns each have 60+ goals on the season. The last time three different Trojans tallied over 60 goals in a single season was in 2001.
– Twelve of USC’s goals against ASU were scored by underclassmen.
#1 USC 18, #11 Arizona State 13
Saturday, April 12 | Uytengsu Aquatics Center
USC 5 – 6 – 3 – 4 = 18
ASU 4 – 2 – 1 – 6 = 13
SCORING:
USC — Morgan Netherton 4, Emily Ausmus 3, Alma Yaacobi 3, Rachel Gazzaniga 2, Ava Stryker 2, Meghan McAninch 2, Maggie Johnson, Isabel Zimmerman.
ASU — Millie Quin 6, Itziar Almeda 3, Sophie Shorter-Robinson 2, Zoe Frangieh, Molly Glad.
SAVES: Anna Reed (USC) 7, Keri Glad (ASU) 8.
