Friday, January 31
La Jolla, Calif.
9:20 a.m.
USC
vs
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Players Mentioned
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
C
/ Women's Water Polo
C
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
C
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
C
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
Photo by: Nicole Hourigan
No. 3 USC Women’s Water Polo Takes Aim At Tourney Title With Trip To Triton Invite
January 29, 2025 | Women's Water Polo
Trojans are grouped with CMS, LMU and UC Davis with action in La Jolla running Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
THIS WEEK
No. 3 USC sets off for San Diego this week for competition at the Triton Invitational. The Trojans open up bracket play with a Friday (Jan. 31) meeting against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 9:20 a.m. On Saturday (Feb. 1), USC will face either No. 11 LMU or No. 21 UC Davis to close out group play, with semifinals set for that afternoon. Placement games take place Sunday (Feb. 2), with all the action taking place at UC San Diego's Triton and Canyonview pools.
2025 TRITON TEAMS
USC is part of a 16-team field at the 2025 Triton Invitational. The No. 3 Trojans are in Bracket B with No. 11 LMU, No. 21 UC Davis and CMS. Bracket A includes No. 1 UCLA, No. 7 Arizona State, host No. 14 UC San Diego and Concordia. Bracket C has No. 5 Hawai'i, No. 7 Fresno State, No. 15 UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton. And Bracket D contains No. 6 UC Irvine, No. 10 Long Beach State, No. 18 San Diego State and CBU.
RANKINGS
USC opened up 2025 ranked No. 3 in the national rankings. After the first week of action, the Trojans remain at No. 3 in the latest round of rankings (released Jan. 29).
LAST ACTION
USC flexed some offensive muscle en route to two wins captured at the Lancer Joust. Tilly Kearns and Ava Stryker each scored five goals in the Trojans' comeback win over the Anteaters, helping USC improve to 4-0 overall on the year.
#3 USC 20, California Baptist 2
In its first game of the day in Riverside, USC manufactured a 9-0 scoring rally to turn a tight early game into a Trojan-controlled affair. Tilly Kearns sparked the rally with a strike out of set in the first period, then had the last word of the half with her second to make it an 8-1 USC lead at halftime. The momentum continued in the second half as Rachel Gazzaniga hammered one home and then Alma Yaacobi scored her first goal as a Trojan in her USC debut to make it a 10-1 advantage. CBU broke up the run with a 6-on-5 score, only to see USC fire off four straight scores. Yaacobi scored two more in that stretch to help her Trojans take a 14-2 lead into the fourth frame. USC would make it a 10-0 run to finish out its 20-2 win, with Kearns working her way to a four-goal outing while Emily Ausmus and Ava Stryker added their third goals during the fourth. Ava Knepper became the 10th Trojan to score along the way to the finish line. USC had all four goalies have a hand in the win over the Lancers, with each serving eight minutes of work. Anna Reed and Lauren Schneider each anchored shutouts in their time in the cage.
#3 USC 18, #7 UC Irvine 15
USC fell into a three-goal hole twice in the first half before gathering itself and mounting a 4-0 rally to get out ahead. Ausmus converted on a power play to light the fuse for the Trojans, with Kearns going back-to-back and Rachel Gazzaniga powering USC to a 7-6 lead. The Anteaters finished off a power play before the close of the half, and it was knotted 7-7 at halftime. It was a see-saw battle in the third as USC nudged ahead and the Anteaters answered right back for three ties until Ausmus and Yaacobi broke the cycle. Ausmus sent in a slider at the tail end of a USC 6-on-5 to make it 11-10, and then Gazzaniga got a takeaway and found Yaacobi for a rocket that took the Trojans to a 12-10 lead at the end of the third. Action stayed heated in the fourth, and USC stretched its lead out to three-goal margins thanks to inoffensive onslaught from Stryker. Her fifth goal of the game had USC on top 17-14 with 2:41 to go. Kearns joined Stryker's five-spot with a penalty strike in the final minute to answer UCI's last goal, and it was an 18-15 USC victory in the books.
NOTABLE:
- FR Alma Yaacobi scored three goals in her USC debut vs. CBU.
- With nine goals scored at the event, SR Tilly Kearns climbed to No. 12 all-time in career scoring at USC, now with 178 career goals.
- With goals scored in both games today, Kearns, Emily Ausmus, Rachel Gazzaniga, Ava Knepper and Ava Stryker have all scored in every game for USC this season.
- Kearns, Ausmus and Stryker also have now registered multiple-goal efforts in all four USC games this season.
- With five goals scored vs. UC Irvine, Stryker tied her career high.
- USC has now won 38 straight games against UC Irvine.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Almost half of USC's scoring was generated by just five Trojan freshmen and sophomores last year, led by All-Americans Rachel Gazzaniga and Ava Stryker with 49 goals apiece. That dynamic duo gained extra experience as teammates with Team USA in a gold-medal run at the recent Pan American Games alongside incoming freshman and 2024 Olympian Emily Ausmus. Along with Ausmus, who deferred her enrollment in 2023-24 to compete with Team USA in Paris, USC welcomes a total of five newcomers to the pool for this 2025 campaign. Also boasting international experience are true freshman Alma Yaacobi (Israel) and junior transfer Sinia Plotz (Germany). Southern California products Ava Knepper and Sofia Umeda are also tabbed as quick impact players for the Trojans in their first season ahead.
VETERAN VIPS
Two-time Olympian and 2024 silver medalist Tilly Kearns plunges back into action at USC, where she is one of a five-woman senior class setting up for their final season as Trojans. Laine Hourigan, Emma Lawson, Sally McCarthy and Isabel Zimmerman all bring veteran experience to the 2025 Trojan talent pool. Lawson and junior Maggie Johnson are USC's team captains this season, joined by Kearns, Zimmerman, junior Morgan Netherton and sophomore Gazzaniga on head coach Casey Moon's Leadership Council, which serves as a guiding force for the Trojans.
STAYING CENTERED
USC's center play is anchored by Tilly Kearns and Alma Yaacobi on the offensive end, and is balanced by the defensive savvy of Emily Ausmus and Rachel Gazzaniga as guards. Gazzaniga and Madison Haaland-Ford also add offensive options at the two-meter slot for the Trojans.
ATTACK MODE
USC's perimeter attack features a number of Trojan sharpshooters. Along with the more veteran talent of Morgan Netherton and Isabel Zimmerman, sophomores Rachel Gazzaniga, Ava Stryker and Meghan McAninch have proven their worth on the perimeter, with further reinforcements coming in from newcomers Sinia Plotz, Ausmus and Kearns. Additional depth from the bench comes from Hannah Carver and Jelena Sarac, who scored their first goals as Trojans last season, along with another redshirt sophomore in Caitlin Cohen.
CAGE FIGHTERS
On the defensive end of the pool, USC also boasts a connected unit of goalies. Laine Hourigan and Jada Ward both have logged time in the cage the last two seasons. They're joined by two other Trojan goalies in redshirt freshmen Anna Reed and Lauren Schneider as USC's goalkeeping corps for 2025.
LAST SEASON
In 2024, USC went 18-9 overall in a season that saw the Trojans make a 20th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in Casey Moon's first season as full-time head coach for the Trojans. USC tied for second in MPSF regular-season play at 4-2 and finished fourth at the MPSF Tournament. At the NCAA tourney, the Trojans fell in the quarterfinals to Stanford. USC's 2024 team was led in scoring by freshmen Rachel Gazzaniga and Ava Stryker with 49 goals apiece. Both earned All-America honors along with seniors Alejandra Aznar and Julua Janov.
THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California is the undeniable, unequaled and unquestioned top destination for student-athletes. USC is both home to 136 national team championships and one of the top-ranked private research institutions in the world. Located in the heart of the thriving Los Angeles metropolitan area, it is situated in one of the most diverse and visible media markets in the world. USC's campus is driving distance from the beautiful beaches of Southern California, the majestic mountains range of the Sierra Nevada, the sprawling splendor of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the mysterious Mojave Desert. •
No. 3 USC sets off for San Diego this week for competition at the Triton Invitational. The Trojans open up bracket play with a Friday (Jan. 31) meeting against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 9:20 a.m. On Saturday (Feb. 1), USC will face either No. 11 LMU or No. 21 UC Davis to close out group play, with semifinals set for that afternoon. Placement games take place Sunday (Feb. 2), with all the action taking place at UC San Diego's Triton and Canyonview pools.
2025 TRITON TEAMS
USC is part of a 16-team field at the 2025 Triton Invitational. The No. 3 Trojans are in Bracket B with No. 11 LMU, No. 21 UC Davis and CMS. Bracket A includes No. 1 UCLA, No. 7 Arizona State, host No. 14 UC San Diego and Concordia. Bracket C has No. 5 Hawai'i, No. 7 Fresno State, No. 15 UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton. And Bracket D contains No. 6 UC Irvine, No. 10 Long Beach State, No. 18 San Diego State and CBU.
RANKINGS
USC opened up 2025 ranked No. 3 in the national rankings. After the first week of action, the Trojans remain at No. 3 in the latest round of rankings (released Jan. 29).
LAST ACTION
USC flexed some offensive muscle en route to two wins captured at the Lancer Joust. Tilly Kearns and Ava Stryker each scored five goals in the Trojans' comeback win over the Anteaters, helping USC improve to 4-0 overall on the year.
#3 USC 20, California Baptist 2
In its first game of the day in Riverside, USC manufactured a 9-0 scoring rally to turn a tight early game into a Trojan-controlled affair. Tilly Kearns sparked the rally with a strike out of set in the first period, then had the last word of the half with her second to make it an 8-1 USC lead at halftime. The momentum continued in the second half as Rachel Gazzaniga hammered one home and then Alma Yaacobi scored her first goal as a Trojan in her USC debut to make it a 10-1 advantage. CBU broke up the run with a 6-on-5 score, only to see USC fire off four straight scores. Yaacobi scored two more in that stretch to help her Trojans take a 14-2 lead into the fourth frame. USC would make it a 10-0 run to finish out its 20-2 win, with Kearns working her way to a four-goal outing while Emily Ausmus and Ava Stryker added their third goals during the fourth. Ava Knepper became the 10th Trojan to score along the way to the finish line. USC had all four goalies have a hand in the win over the Lancers, with each serving eight minutes of work. Anna Reed and Lauren Schneider each anchored shutouts in their time in the cage.
#3 USC 18, #7 UC Irvine 15
USC fell into a three-goal hole twice in the first half before gathering itself and mounting a 4-0 rally to get out ahead. Ausmus converted on a power play to light the fuse for the Trojans, with Kearns going back-to-back and Rachel Gazzaniga powering USC to a 7-6 lead. The Anteaters finished off a power play before the close of the half, and it was knotted 7-7 at halftime. It was a see-saw battle in the third as USC nudged ahead and the Anteaters answered right back for three ties until Ausmus and Yaacobi broke the cycle. Ausmus sent in a slider at the tail end of a USC 6-on-5 to make it 11-10, and then Gazzaniga got a takeaway and found Yaacobi for a rocket that took the Trojans to a 12-10 lead at the end of the third. Action stayed heated in the fourth, and USC stretched its lead out to three-goal margins thanks to inoffensive onslaught from Stryker. Her fifth goal of the game had USC on top 17-14 with 2:41 to go. Kearns joined Stryker's five-spot with a penalty strike in the final minute to answer UCI's last goal, and it was an 18-15 USC victory in the books.
NOTABLE:
- FR Alma Yaacobi scored three goals in her USC debut vs. CBU.
- With nine goals scored at the event, SR Tilly Kearns climbed to No. 12 all-time in career scoring at USC, now with 178 career goals.
- With goals scored in both games today, Kearns, Emily Ausmus, Rachel Gazzaniga, Ava Knepper and Ava Stryker have all scored in every game for USC this season.
- Kearns, Ausmus and Stryker also have now registered multiple-goal efforts in all four USC games this season.
- With five goals scored vs. UC Irvine, Stryker tied her career high.
- USC has now won 38 straight games against UC Irvine.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Almost half of USC's scoring was generated by just five Trojan freshmen and sophomores last year, led by All-Americans Rachel Gazzaniga and Ava Stryker with 49 goals apiece. That dynamic duo gained extra experience as teammates with Team USA in a gold-medal run at the recent Pan American Games alongside incoming freshman and 2024 Olympian Emily Ausmus. Along with Ausmus, who deferred her enrollment in 2023-24 to compete with Team USA in Paris, USC welcomes a total of five newcomers to the pool for this 2025 campaign. Also boasting international experience are true freshman Alma Yaacobi (Israel) and junior transfer Sinia Plotz (Germany). Southern California products Ava Knepper and Sofia Umeda are also tabbed as quick impact players for the Trojans in their first season ahead.
VETERAN VIPS
Two-time Olympian and 2024 silver medalist Tilly Kearns plunges back into action at USC, where she is one of a five-woman senior class setting up for their final season as Trojans. Laine Hourigan, Emma Lawson, Sally McCarthy and Isabel Zimmerman all bring veteran experience to the 2025 Trojan talent pool. Lawson and junior Maggie Johnson are USC's team captains this season, joined by Kearns, Zimmerman, junior Morgan Netherton and sophomore Gazzaniga on head coach Casey Moon's Leadership Council, which serves as a guiding force for the Trojans.
STAYING CENTERED
USC's center play is anchored by Tilly Kearns and Alma Yaacobi on the offensive end, and is balanced by the defensive savvy of Emily Ausmus and Rachel Gazzaniga as guards. Gazzaniga and Madison Haaland-Ford also add offensive options at the two-meter slot for the Trojans.
ATTACK MODE
USC's perimeter attack features a number of Trojan sharpshooters. Along with the more veteran talent of Morgan Netherton and Isabel Zimmerman, sophomores Rachel Gazzaniga, Ava Stryker and Meghan McAninch have proven their worth on the perimeter, with further reinforcements coming in from newcomers Sinia Plotz, Ausmus and Kearns. Additional depth from the bench comes from Hannah Carver and Jelena Sarac, who scored their first goals as Trojans last season, along with another redshirt sophomore in Caitlin Cohen.
CAGE FIGHTERS
On the defensive end of the pool, USC also boasts a connected unit of goalies. Laine Hourigan and Jada Ward both have logged time in the cage the last two seasons. They're joined by two other Trojan goalies in redshirt freshmen Anna Reed and Lauren Schneider as USC's goalkeeping corps for 2025.
LAST SEASON
In 2024, USC went 18-9 overall in a season that saw the Trojans make a 20th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in Casey Moon's first season as full-time head coach for the Trojans. USC tied for second in MPSF regular-season play at 4-2 and finished fourth at the MPSF Tournament. At the NCAA tourney, the Trojans fell in the quarterfinals to Stanford. USC's 2024 team was led in scoring by freshmen Rachel Gazzaniga and Ava Stryker with 49 goals apiece. Both earned All-America honors along with seniors Alejandra Aznar and Julua Janov.
THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California is the undeniable, unequaled and unquestioned top destination for student-athletes. USC is both home to 136 national team championships and one of the top-ranked private research institutions in the world. Located in the heart of the thriving Los Angeles metropolitan area, it is situated in one of the most diverse and visible media markets in the world. USC's campus is driving distance from the beautiful beaches of Southern California, the majestic mountains range of the Sierra Nevada, the sprawling splendor of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the mysterious Mojave Desert. •
USC Water Polo's Emily Ausmus | Trojans Live 3.24.25
Monday, March 24
Women's Water Polo - Stanford 8, USC 3: Highlights (5/10/24)
Friday, May 10
Julia Janov - 2024 NCAA Women's Water Polo Banquet speech
Thursday, May 09
Women's Water Polo - Stanford 12, USC 11: Highlights (4/28/24)
Sunday, April 28
