Courtesy: USC Athletics
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The No. 1 USC women’s water polo team used a balanced offensive attack and a strong first-half push to earn a 14–10 win over No. 4 California in Berkeley.
#1 USC 14, #4 Cal 10
The Trojans got off to a quick start after winning the opening sprint, with Emily Ausmus converting a penalty to put USC on the board first. The opening quarter stayed tight, with both teams trading goals throughout. Alma Yaacobi capitalized on a power play opportunity, while Ava Knepper and Rachel Gazzaniga each added goals to keep USC in front. The Trojans maintained pace in a back-and-forth frame that ended even at 5–5.
USC began to create separation in the second quarter with a more controlled offensive stretch. Ausmus opened the scoring again with another penalty conversion, and the Trojans continued to generate opportunities on the power play. Knepper added a goal, while Gazzaniga stayed hot with two more back-to-back goals in the period. USC’s defense also stepped up, limiting California’s chances late in the quarter as the Trojans closed on a run to take a 9–7 lead into halftime.
The Trojans carried that momentum into the third quarter with another offensive burst. Yaacobi struck early to extend the lead, followed by back-to-back goals from Meghan McAninch. USC continued to capitalize on exclusions, with Morgan Netherton converting on the power play off an assist from Gazzaniga. Despite a pair of California responses, USC maintained control of the tempo and built a 13–9 advantage heading into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, USC relied on its defense and goalkeeping to close things out. Ausmus added a natural goal midway through the period to stretch the lead, while goalkeeper Anna Reed made several key saves, including a penalty stop, to halt any California comeback attempts. The Trojans limited California’s opportunities down the stretch and secured the 14–10 victory at home.
Notables
- Rachel Gazzaniga and Emily Ausmus both led the scoring for the Trojans with three goals each.
- Rachel Gazzaniga tied her season high in drawn exclusions with four total.
- Maggie Johnson marked her fourth consecutive and 14th game of the season with two or more assists, finishing the game with four.
- Anna Reed made key saves seven of her nine saves in a big fourth quarter, including two on penalty shots.
- The win marks the Trojans fifth win over a top-five opponent this season.
- The Women of Troy remain the only unbeaten team in conference play with a 5-0 record against MPSF opponents.
Scoring: Rachel Gazzaniga (3), Emily Ausmus (3), Alma Yaacobi (2), Ava Knepper (2), Meghan McAninch (2), Sinia Plotz (2), Morgan Netherton (1)
Saves: Anna Reed (9)
Up Next
The Women of Troy will return home to the Uytengsu Aquatics Center to wrap up regular-season play and host No. 3 UCLA. The MPSF matchup is set for Saturday, Apr. 4 at 1:00 p.m.
Courtesy: Cal Athletics
LOS ANGELES — The No. 4 California women’s water polo team went toe-to-toe with top-ranked USC in MPSF action today before the host Trojans got out ahead before halftime and held off the Golden Bears for a 14-10 decision. The road loss puts Cal at 13-4 overall and 3-2 in MPSF play.
Cal was right in stride with USC for the first 12 minutes, consistently finding a response to each Trojan goal in an offensive onslaught for that opening stretch. After a Despoina Drakotou takeaway, Talia Fonseca found Maria Bogachenko on the counterattack, and she hit Rosalie Hassett for a strike that knotted the game up for the sixth time. With 12 goals scored in 12 minutes, the score was even at 6-6. That’s when the Trojans shifted gears, knocking in three straight scores to go up 9-6 before Hassett hit her second of the day to make it a 9-7 margin just before halftime.
USC crept ahead 11-7 with a couple early goals in the third before Julia Bonaguidi tallied her third goal for Cal to make it 11-8 with 3:11 on the clock. USC hit from distance next, and then Hassett set up Eszter Varró for a blast at the post for the Bears to get Cal back within three. USC finished off a 6-on-5 soon after, though, and it was a 13-9 scoreline entering the fourth frame. There, Cal got another Varro blast off a feed from Hassett in the final minute, but the Bears could move no closer in the remaining time and took a 14-10 loss to the No. 1 Trojans.
#1 USC 14, #4 Cal 10
March 28, 2026 | Uytengsu Aquatics Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
CAL 5 – 2 – 2 – 1 = 10
USC 5 – 4 – 4 – 1 = 14
SCORING:
CAL — Eszter Varró 4, Rosalie Hassett 2, Julia Bonaguidi 2, Abbi Magee, Maria Bogachenko.
USC — Emily Ausmus 3, Rachel Gazzaniga 3, Alma Yaacobi 2, Ava Knepper 2, Meghan McAninch 2, Sinia Plotz, Morgan Netherton.
SAVES: Talia Fonseca (CAL) 10, Anna Reed (USC) 9.
NEXT: Cal turns to cap off regular-season play next week with a visit to Stanford for a 1 p.m. meeting on Saturday (April 4) at Avery Aquatic Center.
NOTABLE:
– With three goals today, Julia Bonaguidi has scored multiple goals in Cal’s last six games.
– With one goal today, Abbi Magee has now scored in 15 of Cal’s 16 games this season — a team high.
– With 10 saves, Talia Fonseca recorded her second double-digit saves outing of the season and the eighth of her career.
– Eszter Varró scored a season-high four goals.
