USC
California
No. 2 USC Tops No. 7 Cal 14-4
February 28, 2009 | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 28, 2009
BERKELEY, CALIF. -- The No. 2 USC women's water polo team got back in winning mode with a decisive 14-4 win over No. 7 in the Trojans' first MPSF match of the year. After taking their first loss last week in sudden death, the Women of Troy barreled to a road win on Saturday in Berkeley behind a hat trick from Kami Craig and a second-half shutout by the USC defense backed up by goalie Tumua Anae. USC improves to 11-1 overall and is now 1-0 in MPSF play with today's win.
The Trojans bounced out to a 4-1 lead in the first period, allowing only a Cal 5-meter penalty shot to go through during the frame before Joelle Bekhazi and Forel Davies scored to take USC ahead 4-1. In the second, Cal managed a pair of goals, while Davies struck again, and Kally Lucas and Alexandra Kiss also buried scores to get USC a 7-3 lead. Cal would get one last goal to go before halftime, however, making it a 7-4 USC lead at the half.
USC's defense stiffened for the second half, as Tumua Anae moved her way to an 11-save outing for the Trojans in the cage, including a stop against another Cal 5-meter penalty try. Meanwhile, two Craig goals along with another from Bekhazi and one last one from Rosanna Tomiuk would come in the fourth period to lift the Trojans ahead 11-4 entering the fourth period. In the final frame, USC made sure to finish strong, pounding out three more goals -- one from Michelle Stein and a pair from Jordan Anae to round out a 14-4 win for the Women of Troy.
USC now returns home for a pair of games at McDonald's Swim Stadium. USC first hosts Long Beach State at 6 p.m. on Friday (March 6) and then takes on San Jose State at 12 p.m. on Saturday (March 7).
#2 USC 14, #7 Cal
USC 4 - 3 - 4 - 3 = 14
CAL 1 - 3 - 0 - 0 = 4
SCORING:
USC -- Kami Craig 3, Kally Lucas 2, Joelle Bekhazi 2, Forel Davies 2, Jordan Anae 2, Alexandra Kiss, Michelle Stein, Rosanna Tomiuk.
CAL -- Stephanie Schnugg 2, Camille Hewko 2, Meghan Corso.
SAVES: Tumua Anae (USC) 11, Stephanie Peckham (CAL) 5, Lauren Burke (CAL) 2.
