University Southern California Trojans
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Photo by: Figge Photography
2018 USC WOMEN’S WATER POLO SEASON OUTLOOK
January 23, 2018 | Women's Water Polo, Features
The Trojans open the year at No. 2 in the land with a laser focus on winning it all.
Five All-Americans and seven NCAA champions strong, the 2018 USC women's water polo roster has the experience and the skill to lock up another national championship. Already, head coach Jovan Vavic is pleased with what he sees, and with the potential of his Women of Troy to have a big year.
"We have a really good group, and our starting seven is probably the best in the nation." Vavic said. "We are united. They want this."
This year's arsenal of Trojans boasts a daunting blend of veterans and youth — all armed with the talent and savvy to propel USC to the top. Already ranked No. 2 in the land as the 2018 season gets underway, USC trains its focus on that NCAA trophy, which the Trojans last captured in 2016 in an undefeated run through that season. Back in the captains' roles for 2018 are two members of that title-winning team in All-Americans Brianna Daboub and Amanda Longan, who are leading a group of very hungry Women of Troy.
"This team is the same kind of the team as when we last won the title," Vavic said. "I like this group. I think they are fired up and focused. The team that won in 2016 also was really focused, and also had a group of freshmen who were really into it, were really positive and trained hard. These freshman right now are really similar to that — they want to learn and get better."
Headlining this freshman class is U.S. National Team member Paige Hauschild, who is tabbed as one of those seven top starting guns for the Trojans. A set of sophomores — Denise Mammolito, Maud Megens and Kelsey McIntosh are also in that mix, along with savvy seniors Daboub and Hayley McKelvey.
"Paige is a blue-chip player," Vavic said of Hauschild. "She is somebody who can singlehandedly win you a game. Our strength is in our defense and our length with players like Hayley and Brianna and Maud and Denise. Really, all our starters play great defense."
But the talent doesn't stop in the field for the Trojans. USC boasts a fearsome tagteam in the cage in All-American tandem Victória Chamorro and Longan. Those two are the backbones of what is shaping up to be a formidable USC defense. Both compete for their respective national teams — Chamorro as a 2016 Olympian with Brazil and Longan as a gold-medalist with Team USA at the recent 2017 FINA World Championships alongside Hauschild.
"Both goalies are outstanding," Vavic said of Chamorro and Longan. "They split time last season and were both excellent. As a team, defense is going be our strength — even more so with Amanda and Vic's national team experience. Our defense is going to be really a key this year."
The Trojan defense allowed just 4.59 goals per game last season, finishing up 29-4 overall with a run to the 2017 NCAA semifinals in USC's 14th consecutive trip to the tourney. What's more, USC had both Chamorro and Longan averaging over 10 saves per game in the cage. With that goalkeeping unit back for more, and if the defensive-minded Vavic's prediction of a stingy USC field unit is correct, this 2018 Trojan team is set to clamp down on its opponents in a powerful way.
Offensively, USC looks to have reloaded effectively. Even with the departure of four senior All-Americans who accounted for 45 percent of USC's scoring in 2017, Vavic is confident that a year's experience for last season's freshmen — Megens, McIntosh, Mammolito, Elise Stein and Kaylee Brownsberger — along with the leadership of 2016 NCAA champion seniors Chamorro, Daboub, McKelvey and Annika Jensen and juniors Longan, Courtney Fahey and Brooke Presten will raise the bar again for the Trojans.
As a true freshman, Megens was USC's second leading scorer with 58 goals. Daboub, McKelvey and Mammolito combined for an even 100 goals. Add to that the depth charge that Hauschild and her fellow true freshmen bring for 2018, and USC's attack becomes well-rounded and dangerous. USC also has three new internationals in the water to diversify that attack. Canadians Verica Bakoc and Nina Ceklic are in the mix, along with New Zealand product Nadia Pavlovich. U.S. product Randi Reinhardt also stands out as a key addition to USC's rotation for 2018.
In all, the 2018 Trojans are a balanced and cohesive unit that Vavic believes in.
"We can be a very smart, intelligent team. Our chemistry is excellent, and they are working hard," Vavic said. "We have size, we have speed, and we are very competitive."
"We have a really good group, and our starting seven is probably the best in the nation." Vavic said. "We are united. They want this."
This year's arsenal of Trojans boasts a daunting blend of veterans and youth — all armed with the talent and savvy to propel USC to the top. Already ranked No. 2 in the land as the 2018 season gets underway, USC trains its focus on that NCAA trophy, which the Trojans last captured in 2016 in an undefeated run through that season. Back in the captains' roles for 2018 are two members of that title-winning team in All-Americans Brianna Daboub and Amanda Longan, who are leading a group of very hungry Women of Troy.
"This team is the same kind of the team as when we last won the title," Vavic said. "I like this group. I think they are fired up and focused. The team that won in 2016 also was really focused, and also had a group of freshmen who were really into it, were really positive and trained hard. These freshman right now are really similar to that — they want to learn and get better."
Headlining this freshman class is U.S. National Team member Paige Hauschild, who is tabbed as one of those seven top starting guns for the Trojans. A set of sophomores — Denise Mammolito, Maud Megens and Kelsey McIntosh are also in that mix, along with savvy seniors Daboub and Hayley McKelvey.
"Paige is a blue-chip player," Vavic said of Hauschild. "She is somebody who can singlehandedly win you a game. Our strength is in our defense and our length with players like Hayley and Brianna and Maud and Denise. Really, all our starters play great defense."
But the talent doesn't stop in the field for the Trojans. USC boasts a fearsome tagteam in the cage in All-American tandem Victória Chamorro and Longan. Those two are the backbones of what is shaping up to be a formidable USC defense. Both compete for their respective national teams — Chamorro as a 2016 Olympian with Brazil and Longan as a gold-medalist with Team USA at the recent 2017 FINA World Championships alongside Hauschild.
"Both goalies are outstanding," Vavic said of Chamorro and Longan. "They split time last season and were both excellent. As a team, defense is going be our strength — even more so with Amanda and Vic's national team experience. Our defense is going to be really a key this year."
The Trojan defense allowed just 4.59 goals per game last season, finishing up 29-4 overall with a run to the 2017 NCAA semifinals in USC's 14th consecutive trip to the tourney. What's more, USC had both Chamorro and Longan averaging over 10 saves per game in the cage. With that goalkeeping unit back for more, and if the defensive-minded Vavic's prediction of a stingy USC field unit is correct, this 2018 Trojan team is set to clamp down on its opponents in a powerful way.
Offensively, USC looks to have reloaded effectively. Even with the departure of four senior All-Americans who accounted for 45 percent of USC's scoring in 2017, Vavic is confident that a year's experience for last season's freshmen — Megens, McIntosh, Mammolito, Elise Stein and Kaylee Brownsberger — along with the leadership of 2016 NCAA champion seniors Chamorro, Daboub, McKelvey and Annika Jensen and juniors Longan, Courtney Fahey and Brooke Presten will raise the bar again for the Trojans.
As a true freshman, Megens was USC's second leading scorer with 58 goals. Daboub, McKelvey and Mammolito combined for an even 100 goals. Add to that the depth charge that Hauschild and her fellow true freshmen bring for 2018, and USC's attack becomes well-rounded and dangerous. USC also has three new internationals in the water to diversify that attack. Canadians Verica Bakoc and Nina Ceklic are in the mix, along with New Zealand product Nadia Pavlovich. U.S. product Randi Reinhardt also stands out as a key addition to USC's rotation for 2018.
In all, the 2018 Trojans are a balanced and cohesive unit that Vavic believes in.
"We can be a very smart, intelligent team. Our chemistry is excellent, and they are working hard," Vavic said. "We have size, we have speed, and we are very competitive."
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