University Southern California Trojans
No. 3 USC Hosts ASU and UC Irvine
March 09, 2011 | Women's Water Polo
March 9, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
THIS WEEK
After a month of road games, the No. 3 USC women's water polo team returns to the home waters of McDonald's Swim Stadium this week for two games. The Trojans (9-3, 1-1 MPSF) are looking to turn the tide on a two-game stumble, and first line up for an important MPSF clash with No. 7 Arizona State at 5 p.m. on Friday (March 11). USC will then turn to face No. 12 UC Irvine in a nonconference battle at 12 p.m. on Saturday (March 12).
IN THE RANKINGS
USC picked up the No. 2 ranking in the national preseason poll and spent six weeks there until moving to No. 3 this week. ASU is ranked No. 7, and UC Irvine ranks No. 12.
LAST WEEK
USC was upset on the road last week, coming up against a stubborn Cal defense as the Trojans fell 8-3 to the No. 5 Bears in Berkeley to snap USC's 12-game win streak against Cal. Cal goalie Stephanie Peckham had 20 saves to help anchor the Bears' win. The Bears shut out USC 2-0 in the first period, with the Trojans managing goals from Kara-Leigh Huse, Nadia Dan and Saran Van Norman in the next three frames. Goalie Flora Bolonyai had nine saves for the Trojans. The loss marked the first back-to-back losses by the Trojans since 2008, when USC also fell to Stanford and Cal in succession.
SCOUTING ASU
The Sun Devils rank No. 7 this week and are 5-7 overall and 0-2 in MPSF play after falling 8-1 to UCLA and beating Cal Baptist 17-5 last week. Mariam Salloum leads ASU in scoring with 1.8 goals per game, and goalie Ianeta Hutchinson is averaging 6.9 saves and 10.1 goals-against per game. USC is 13-1 all-time against the Sun Devils with a seven-game win streak that includes a 14-5 win over ASU in MPSF play last season.
SCOUTING UCI
The Anteaters rank No. 12 this week and are 8-6 overall after falling 6-4 to San Diego State last week. Cortney Collyer and Jessy Cardey lead UCI in scoring with 19 goals apiece, with three Anteater goalies in rotation for a defensive average of 6.7 save and 6.3 goals-against per game. USC is 17-3 all-time against UCI with a 17-game win streak that includes a 15-5 win last season.
SENIORS AT THE CENTURY MARK
USC seniors Joelle Bekhazi and Kristen Dronberger joined the century club at Troy with their 100th career goals scored this season. Both are making a push to crack the all-time top-10. Bekhazi is just ahead in the climb, holding 107 career goals to date, with Dronberger at 103.
STAT SHEET
As a team, USC sits fourth in the conference on the defensive and offensive boards. Having outscored their competition 124-81 so far, the Trojans are averaging 10.33 goals per game offensively and 6.75 goals-against per game. Nadia Dan is USC's top scorer with 19 goals, and freshman goalie Flora Bolonyai is averaging 7.4 saves and 6.7 goals-against per game in her first year as a Trojan.
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).
