Saturday, February 24
Irvine, CA
11:45 AM
USC
8
vs
6
Arizona State
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
D
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
Photo by: John McGillen
No. 3 USC Shoots Through To Title Match With 6-5 Semifinal Win Over No. 2 Cal
February 24, 2018 | Women's Water Polo, Features
Trojans top ASU 8-6 and then take out Cal on a career-high 18 saves from Amanda Longan to reach tomorrow’s final at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.
IRVINE, CALIF. — The No. 3 USC women's water polo team again made the defensive stands it needed to in order to pull off two big wins today at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. The Trojans fended off No. 6 Arizona State with an 8-6 win to close out group play and secure a semifinal spot. In the semi, USC shutdown No. 2 California in the second and third periods to build out a victory there, beating the Golden Bears 6-5 to jump into the championship game. Now 10-0 overall, USC will do battle for a third straight title at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational tomorrow (Feb. 25) against top-ranked Stanford at 1 p.m. in Irvine, Calif.
Annika Jensen had a big day for the Trojans, delivering a hat trick in both games, hammering home key fourth-period goals in both USC wins to help lock up each game. Against ASU in the first match of the day, Jensen scored USC's first two goals, with freshmen Verica Bakoc and Paige Hauschild following to net USC a 4-3 lead at halftime. ASU would pull back even, locking it up a 5-5 at the end of the third to prompt a USC rally. Hayley McKelvey and Hauschild punched up a goal each to open the fourth, and Jensen zipped in her third to push USC ahead 8-5. The Sun Devils were out of luck and out of time from there, netting one last goal while USC held on for the 8-6 win to scoot into the semifinals.
Up against No. 2 California in the semis, USC got stuck in a 3-1 hole after eight minutes of action. The Trojans defense made a stand in the second, while Hauschild and Jensen both found the back of the next to level things at 3-3 by halftime. In the second half, USC goalie Amanda Longan took over, racking up an final grand total of 18 saves — a career high for the junior — in shutting out the Golden Bears again in the third. Meanwhile, seniors Brianna Daboub and Jensen struck again to build a 5-3 lead. Cal closed the gap to 5-5 late in the fourth, but Jensen provided the heroics again in skipping in a 6-on-5 strike with just 18 ticks to go. One last Longan block sealed the deal, and USC had the 6-5 win and the ticket to tomorrow's title match. The Trojans have a shot at claiming a third straight title at the tourney with a clash against Stanford in the final.
2018 BARBARA KALBUS INVITATIONAL (Irvine, Calif.)
GROUP PLAY
#3 USC 8, #6 Arizona State 6
Feb. 24, 2018 | Irvine, Calif.
USC 1 - 3 - 1 - 3 = 8
ASU 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 = 6
SCORING:
USC — Annika Jensen 3, Paige Hauschild 2, Denise Mammolito, Hayley McKelvey, Verica Bakoc.
ASU — Julia Reyes 3, Kayla Casas, Lena Mihailovic, Bente Rogge.
SAVES: Amanda Longan (USC) 6, Mia Rycraw (ASU) 11.
SEMIFINAL
#3 USC 6, #2 California 5
Feb. 24, 2018 | Irvine, Calif.
USC 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 = 6
CAL 3 - 0 - 0 - 2 = 5
SCORING:
USC — Annika Jensen 3, Brianna Daboub 2, Paige Hauschild.
CAL — Dora Antal, Carla Carrega, Anna Illes, Kacey Avalos, Emma Wright.
SAVES: Amanda Longan (USC) 18, Madison Tagg (CAL) 8.
Annika Jensen had a big day for the Trojans, delivering a hat trick in both games, hammering home key fourth-period goals in both USC wins to help lock up each game. Against ASU in the first match of the day, Jensen scored USC's first two goals, with freshmen Verica Bakoc and Paige Hauschild following to net USC a 4-3 lead at halftime. ASU would pull back even, locking it up a 5-5 at the end of the third to prompt a USC rally. Hayley McKelvey and Hauschild punched up a goal each to open the fourth, and Jensen zipped in her third to push USC ahead 8-5. The Sun Devils were out of luck and out of time from there, netting one last goal while USC held on for the 8-6 win to scoot into the semifinals.
Up against No. 2 California in the semis, USC got stuck in a 3-1 hole after eight minutes of action. The Trojans defense made a stand in the second, while Hauschild and Jensen both found the back of the next to level things at 3-3 by halftime. In the second half, USC goalie Amanda Longan took over, racking up an final grand total of 18 saves — a career high for the junior — in shutting out the Golden Bears again in the third. Meanwhile, seniors Brianna Daboub and Jensen struck again to build a 5-3 lead. Cal closed the gap to 5-5 late in the fourth, but Jensen provided the heroics again in skipping in a 6-on-5 strike with just 18 ticks to go. One last Longan block sealed the deal, and USC had the 6-5 win and the ticket to tomorrow's title match. The Trojans have a shot at claiming a third straight title at the tourney with a clash against Stanford in the final.
2018 BARBARA KALBUS INVITATIONAL (Irvine, Calif.)
GROUP PLAY
#3 USC 8, #6 Arizona State 6
Feb. 24, 2018 | Irvine, Calif.
USC 1 - 3 - 1 - 3 = 8
ASU 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 = 6
SCORING:
USC — Annika Jensen 3, Paige Hauschild 2, Denise Mammolito, Hayley McKelvey, Verica Bakoc.
ASU — Julia Reyes 3, Kayla Casas, Lena Mihailovic, Bente Rogge.
SAVES: Amanda Longan (USC) 6, Mia Rycraw (ASU) 11.
SEMIFINAL
#3 USC 6, #2 California 5
Feb. 24, 2018 | Irvine, Calif.
USC 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 = 6
CAL 3 - 0 - 0 - 2 = 5
SCORING:
USC — Annika Jensen 3, Brianna Daboub 2, Paige Hauschild.
CAL — Dora Antal, Carla Carrega, Anna Illes, Kacey Avalos, Emma Wright.
SAVES: Amanda Longan (USC) 18, Madison Tagg (CAL) 8.
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