University Southern California Trojans
No. 2 USC Visits Long Beach State, San Diego State
February 16, 2011 | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 16, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
THIS WEEK
The No. 2 USC women's water polo team hits the road once again this week as the Trojans pay a visit to Long Beach State before digging into their first MPSF match of the year. USC (4-1) will face the No. 12 49ers (2-5) at 2 p.m.on Friday (Feb. 18). Then it's the Trojans' conference kick-off with a visit to No. 7 San Diego State (8-2) at 12 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 19).
IN THE RANKINGS
USC picked up the No. 2 ranking in the national preseason poll and remains there for the fourth week. Long Beach State is ranked No. 12 this week, and San Diego State ranks No. 7.
LAST WEEK
In its home opener last week, USC rolled over Cal Baptist 19-4 behind four goals from freshman Madeline Rosenthal and a hat trick apiece from Joelle Bekhazi and Kristen Dronberger. USC expanded a 6-2 halftime lead to an 11-2 lead entering the fourth, where the Trojans fired up the afterburners and tacked up eight goals in the frame to lock in their 19th consecutive win at McDonald's Swim Stadium. Goalie Flora Bolonyai gathered in five saves including a stop against a Lancer 5-meter penalty shot to anchor the Trojan defense.
SCOUTING LBSU
The 49ers are 2-5 overall after finishing sixth at the Triton Invitational last weekend. LBSU beat Cal State Northridge 10-7 and fell 8-7 to UC Irvine on the second day of the tourney. Lauren Sieprath and Krizia Cerda have combined for 16 goals to lead the 49er scoring, with goalie Kristen Stragier averaging 7.4 goals-against per game. USC is a perfect 32-0 all-time against Long Beach State after netting 13-1, 12-1 and 18-4 wins over the 49ers last season.
SCOUTING SDSU
The Aztecs are 8-2 overall after taking third at the Triton Invitational last weekend, falling 8-7 to UCLA before beating Michigan 14-12 in the third-place game. Amber Pezzolla leads the Aztecs in scoring with 1.8 goals per game, and goalie Kelly Campoli is averaging 10.0 saves per game. USC is 29-9 all-time against the Aztecs after winning 9-4 in MPSF play and 15-5 during the MPSF Tournament last season to increase USC's win streak over SDSU to 28 straight games.
PUSHING THROUGH PALO ALTO
USC had a strong showing at the Stanford Invitational in the Trojans' first competition of the year. A well-rounded start saw USC post a 9-1 win over No. 15 Indiana before facing crosstown rival No. 4 UCLA later in the day. The Trojans were in control throughout, winning 10-8 to get in position for a shot at the title match. To get there, USC had to get through No. 5 Hawai'i the next morning, and the Trojans took care of that business as well with a 9-7 decision. Nadia Dan recorded hat tricks to lead USC in all three games of group play, with the Trojans facing top-ranked host Stanford in the championship match -- a rematch of the 2010 NCAA final that USC won 10-9. In this one, USC and Stanford were neck-and-neck throughout, with the Trojans forcing overtime with Kristen Dronberger's fourth goal of the game to close regulation. It was tied up again after two overtime periods to bring up sudden death, the first of which passed without a score, thanks in large part to a penalty shot save from USC goalie Flora Bolonyai. Stanford would get the winning score in the second sudden-death period, however, to claim a tight 10-9 win and get the championship for the hosts. For her 31 saves in her first four games as a Trojan, freshman goalie Bolonyai was named the MPSF Newcomer of the Week.
HOME POOL ADVANTAGE
USC's win over UCLA on April 17, 2010, rounded out another undefeated home season for the Women of Troy, marking the program's eighth season overall with a flawless stand in USC's home waters. So far, USC has completed undefeated runs at home in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. USC's win streak at McDonald's Swim Stadium now stands at 19 straight after the Trojans' win in this year's home opener.
LAST SEASON
In 2010, the USC women emerged with their third national championship in beating top-seeded Stanford 10-9 in the 2010 NCAA Championship game. USC finished the year with a 25-3 overall record after going 6-1 in MPSF play with a second-place finish in the MPSF Tournament. USC's last NCAA title had come in 2004, and 2010 marked the Trojans' seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Kami Craig was named the Cutino Award winner for the second straight season, and Tumua Anae was the MPSF Player of the Year. That pair also led USC's All-American count for the season, with Craig becoming just the second Trojan to be named the National Player of the Year, joining 1999 honoree Bernice Orwig. Anae and junior Joelle Bekhazi were both First Team All-Americans along with Craig. Junior Kristen Dronberger was named to the Second Team, and senior Forel Davies was on the Third Team. That led in to a trio of Trojans earning Honorable Mention: seniors Alexandra Kiss and Kally Lucas and freshman Patricia Jancso. Jovan Vavic picked up his third selection as the National Women's Coach of the Year - each of which has followed national championships for his Women of Troy (1999, 2004 and 2010).
