University Southern California Trojans
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Water Polo
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2M
/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
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Photo by: Yannick Peterhans
SEASON OUTLOOK: No. 2 USC Women's Water Polo Returns Seven All-Americans For 2023
January 26, 2023 | Women's Water Polo
The Trojans are looking strong as they open 2023 competition this weekend in Riverside.
If there's one constant that head coach Marko Pintaric is noticing early on as he prepares the USC women's water polo team for the 2023 season, it's team cohesion. The program roster boasts a bevy of returning talent and new faces – many of whom are already playing in the most elite levels of the sport – who are all working toward clinching another national title.
"The most important thing is the team – that team culture and leadership is set right," Pintaric said. "From what I'm seeing right now, we are really on the right path."
Several Trojans are hungry for another title after a record-breaking win over UCLA in the 2021 NCAA Championship game. While their teammates were dominating at NCAAs, All-Americans Paige Hauschild, Tilly Kearns and Alejandra Aznar were taking off the year to practice with their respective national teams in preparation for the 2020 Olympics. With one season back at USC under their belt to reintegrate with the rest of the squad, the trio, especially Hauschild and Kearns as captains, have been setting high expectations for the team.
Kearns finished the 2022 season at the top of the scoring leaderboard with 64 goals – 10th most scored in a single season in program history – and as a Peter J. Cutino Award finalist. The Aussie Olympian earned spots on the 2022 NCAA All-Tournament First Team, the MPSF All-Tournament Team and All-MPSF First Team for her work at two-meters. Olympic gold medalist Hauschild collected 47 goals of her own last season while applying pressure on both sides of the pool. Aznar continues to be a powerful driver on the left-hand side, tallying three hat tricks over the 2022 season, with one in the MPSF semifinal win over Cal.
Adding to the list of returning All-Americans are seniors Mireia Guiral, Grace Tehaney, and Bayley Weber. Guiral, who Pintaric calls "one of the best utilities," will be a key force in center and as a defender. Tehaney's sharpshooting tallied 40 goals last season, adding depth to the Trojans' roster of lefties. Weber rose to No. 2 on the 2022 season's scoring chart with 53 goals while collecting two MPSF Player of the Week honors in February and April.
"To have them back is phenomenal — in all aspects of our game," Pintaric said of super seniors Guiral, Tehaney and Weber.
Depth on the roster has provided an opportunity for players to shine in and out of the pool. Drivers Julia Janov and Téa Poljak are frequently looked to for their critical knowledge of the team system and their shooting skills. Claire Haas, Brooklyn Aguilera and Christina Crum have been leading by example in workouts and conditioning and will be tapped for their consistent capabilities as utilities.
Pintaric has great expectations for other returners as well. Honnie Vandeweghe-O'Shea will be a versatile player once again for the USC effort. Pintaric emphasized that the sophomore "is a player who can play both sides of the pool. She is probably one of the most talented players on the team."
Isabel Zimmerman, who is "very physical, very feisty, and very exciting to watch play," according to Pintaric, will see more action after joining the 2022 NCAA Tournament roster as a true freshman. In addition, Hannah Meyer, who had to sit out last season due to injury, will be back on offense as a center and on defense as a guard.
USC's newest additions come from an array of the best talent in the world, including U.S. pipeline members Morgan Netherton and Maggie Johnson. Both freshmen, they each are coming off of international podium wins over the summer, and Pintaric is excited to see them acclimate to the program.
"They're doing a great job as freshmen learning the system, training hard, buying into the team culture," Pintaric said of Netherton and Johnson. "They are players who are very exciting to coach."
The Trojans have added Fresno State transfer Fanni Muzsnay to the team this season, whose international experience as a member of the Hungarian National Team will complement the diversity of playing styles.
"Fanni is a great addition to our team," Pintaric said. "She was a key player on the Fresno State team. She has a great potential to be an X-factor for this team and we are looking forward to her progress."
Freshman Alex Bonaguidi has also been putting in the effort to train and learn from the slate of center talent in the likes of Kearns and Guiral, and Pintaric sees her as a player to look out for.
All-American goalie Carolyne Stern will return for another season in the cage. She finished the last season ranked No. 9 all-time among USC goalies with 193 career saves, including a career-high 13 saves in the NCAA final match against Stanford.
"She is leading the defense, setting the example and training super hard," Pintaric said of Stern.
USC's goalie corps also features young talent. Pintaric highlights redshirt freshman Laine Hourigan for her ability to adapt quickly, train hard and continue to learn. Alongside Stern and Hourigan, USC boasts added goalie depth in redshirt freshman Sofia Stein and true freshman Jada Ward. Similar to the USC field players, the Trojan goalie group's work ethic has created healthy competition for game minutes and has fueled a campaign for an eighth national championship.
In all, USC returns 13 of the 16 Trojans on the 2022 NCAA Tournament roster, including a total of seven All-Americans. USC posted a 20-4 overall record last season in its run to the NCAA final.
This season's schedule has the Trojans traveling down south for the Triton and Barbara Kalbus invitationals, along with Inland Empire visits for the Lancer Joust and Convergence Tournament. MPSF play will begin mid-March, with a slate of home games that lead to the MPSF Tournament in San José. Not looking to break any streaks, the Women of Troy are taking aim at making their 19th straight NCAA Tournament appearance with a spot in Stockton in May.
USC will officially kick off the season at the Lancer Joust for four games running Jan. 27-28 in in Riverside. On Friday (Jan. 27), the Trojans open up with a 1:45 p.m. clash against Pacific, followed by a 4:15 p.m. meeting with Biola. On Saturday (Jan. 28), USC takes on Long Beach State at 9:15 a.m. and then faces host California Baptist at 1 p.m.
"The most important thing is the team – that team culture and leadership is set right," Pintaric said. "From what I'm seeing right now, we are really on the right path."
Several Trojans are hungry for another title after a record-breaking win over UCLA in the 2021 NCAA Championship game. While their teammates were dominating at NCAAs, All-Americans Paige Hauschild, Tilly Kearns and Alejandra Aznar were taking off the year to practice with their respective national teams in preparation for the 2020 Olympics. With one season back at USC under their belt to reintegrate with the rest of the squad, the trio, especially Hauschild and Kearns as captains, have been setting high expectations for the team.
Kearns finished the 2022 season at the top of the scoring leaderboard with 64 goals – 10th most scored in a single season in program history – and as a Peter J. Cutino Award finalist. The Aussie Olympian earned spots on the 2022 NCAA All-Tournament First Team, the MPSF All-Tournament Team and All-MPSF First Team for her work at two-meters. Olympic gold medalist Hauschild collected 47 goals of her own last season while applying pressure on both sides of the pool. Aznar continues to be a powerful driver on the left-hand side, tallying three hat tricks over the 2022 season, with one in the MPSF semifinal win over Cal.
Adding to the list of returning All-Americans are seniors Mireia Guiral, Grace Tehaney, and Bayley Weber. Guiral, who Pintaric calls "one of the best utilities," will be a key force in center and as a defender. Tehaney's sharpshooting tallied 40 goals last season, adding depth to the Trojans' roster of lefties. Weber rose to No. 2 on the 2022 season's scoring chart with 53 goals while collecting two MPSF Player of the Week honors in February and April.
"To have them back is phenomenal — in all aspects of our game," Pintaric said of super seniors Guiral, Tehaney and Weber.
Depth on the roster has provided an opportunity for players to shine in and out of the pool. Drivers Julia Janov and Téa Poljak are frequently looked to for their critical knowledge of the team system and their shooting skills. Claire Haas, Brooklyn Aguilera and Christina Crum have been leading by example in workouts and conditioning and will be tapped for their consistent capabilities as utilities.
Pintaric has great expectations for other returners as well. Honnie Vandeweghe-O'Shea will be a versatile player once again for the USC effort. Pintaric emphasized that the sophomore "is a player who can play both sides of the pool. She is probably one of the most talented players on the team."
Isabel Zimmerman, who is "very physical, very feisty, and very exciting to watch play," according to Pintaric, will see more action after joining the 2022 NCAA Tournament roster as a true freshman. In addition, Hannah Meyer, who had to sit out last season due to injury, will be back on offense as a center and on defense as a guard.
USC's newest additions come from an array of the best talent in the world, including U.S. pipeline members Morgan Netherton and Maggie Johnson. Both freshmen, they each are coming off of international podium wins over the summer, and Pintaric is excited to see them acclimate to the program.
"They're doing a great job as freshmen learning the system, training hard, buying into the team culture," Pintaric said of Netherton and Johnson. "They are players who are very exciting to coach."
The Trojans have added Fresno State transfer Fanni Muzsnay to the team this season, whose international experience as a member of the Hungarian National Team will complement the diversity of playing styles.
"Fanni is a great addition to our team," Pintaric said. "She was a key player on the Fresno State team. She has a great potential to be an X-factor for this team and we are looking forward to her progress."
Freshman Alex Bonaguidi has also been putting in the effort to train and learn from the slate of center talent in the likes of Kearns and Guiral, and Pintaric sees her as a player to look out for.
All-American goalie Carolyne Stern will return for another season in the cage. She finished the last season ranked No. 9 all-time among USC goalies with 193 career saves, including a career-high 13 saves in the NCAA final match against Stanford.
"She is leading the defense, setting the example and training super hard," Pintaric said of Stern.
USC's goalie corps also features young talent. Pintaric highlights redshirt freshman Laine Hourigan for her ability to adapt quickly, train hard and continue to learn. Alongside Stern and Hourigan, USC boasts added goalie depth in redshirt freshman Sofia Stein and true freshman Jada Ward. Similar to the USC field players, the Trojan goalie group's work ethic has created healthy competition for game minutes and has fueled a campaign for an eighth national championship.
In all, USC returns 13 of the 16 Trojans on the 2022 NCAA Tournament roster, including a total of seven All-Americans. USC posted a 20-4 overall record last season in its run to the NCAA final.
This season's schedule has the Trojans traveling down south for the Triton and Barbara Kalbus invitationals, along with Inland Empire visits for the Lancer Joust and Convergence Tournament. MPSF play will begin mid-March, with a slate of home games that lead to the MPSF Tournament in San José. Not looking to break any streaks, the Women of Troy are taking aim at making their 19th straight NCAA Tournament appearance with a spot in Stockton in May.
USC will officially kick off the season at the Lancer Joust for four games running Jan. 27-28 in in Riverside. On Friday (Jan. 27), the Trojans open up with a 1:45 p.m. clash against Pacific, followed by a 4:15 p.m. meeting with Biola. On Saturday (Jan. 28), USC takes on Long Beach State at 9:15 a.m. and then faces host California Baptist at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 25
Monday, March 24
