Saturday, February 22
Irvine, Calif.
8:00 a.m.
USC
13-0
15
vs
7
Long Beach State
6-6
1
2
3
4
F
Long Beach State
3
1
0
3
7
Southern California
5
1
6
3
15
Team Stats
LBSU
USC
Shots
7
28
Goals
7
15
Assists
5
11
Points
12
26
Exclusions
17
15
Steals
4
4
Sprints
0
0
1
Alma Yaacobi
7:09
Martina Cardona
6:45
Martina Cardona
5:45
Sofia Umeda
4:16
Isabel Zimmerman
3:21
Jamie Oberman
2:53
Rachel Gazzaniga
2:28
Maggie Johnson
1:02
2
Rita Gurri Capel
0:04
Emily Ausmus
0:00
3
Ava Stryker
7:30
Tilly Kearns
6:46
Emily Ausmus
2:42
Tilly Kearns
1:59
Emily Ausmus
1:10
Morgan Netherton
0:01
4
Alma Yaacobi
7:03
Zelma Koka
6:36
Ava Stryker
6:06
Ava Stryker
4:44
Elisa Portillo
2:48
Jamie Oberman
1:46
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
Goals
3
Assists
1
Points
4
Shots
4
Goals
3
Assists
1
Points
4
Shots
4
Goals
2
Assists
1
Points
3
Shots
3
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Players Mentioned
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
C
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water PoloC
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water PoloATT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
C
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
Photo by: Nicole Hourigan
No. 1 USC Women’s Water Polo Bound for BKI Title Match After Two Balanced Wins In Irvine
February 22, 2025 | Women's Water Polo
USC’s defense shut out both Long Beach State and Hawai’i in the third periods to take control in tourney play.
IRVINE, CALIF. — The No. 1 USC women's water polo team shut out two opponents in the third periods of play today to steamroll its way into the title match of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. The Trojans took down No. 8 Long Beach State 15-7 in group play and dominated No. 5 Hawai'i in the semifinals with a 14-7 scoreline. USC goalie Jada Ward anchored a strong USC defensive stand in both games with back-to-back 11-save outings for the Trojan cause. USC is now 14-0 overall and will face either Stanford or UCLA in the BKI final tomorrow (Feb. 23) at 1 p.m. at UC Irvine's Anteater Aquatics Complex.
USC's day started early with an 8 a.m. clash against the Beach. Long Beach State scored early, but USC turned a one-goal game into a 5-2 lead after eight minutes of play as Rachel Gazzaniga and Maggie Johnson wrapped goals around a Jada Ward save. Scoring slowed in the second, but USC gripped a 6-3 advantage at halftime. As the fog began to clear at the venue, USC found its groove. The Beach would not score for the entirety of the third quarter while USC piled up six goals to power into a 12-3 lead entering the fourth. Tilly Kearns served up two goals in that push to move into sole possession of the No. 11 all-time scoring slot at USC, and her Trojans stayed the course in the fourth with a balanced effort to lock in a 15-7 final that was topped off by a field block from Sally McCarthy.
In the afternoon, USC squared off against No. 5 Hawai'i to fight for a spot in tomorrow's final. Emily Ausmus scored USC's first and fourth goals in the opening period while Ava Stryker and Tilly Kearns each provided fine finishes to help USC lead things 4-1 eight minutes in. In the second period, it was Alma Yaacobi who had the bookends on USC's scoring with two powerful strikes out of set. Meghan McAninch and Rachel Gazzaniga delivered as well, while Ward remained stalwart in the cage to help USC hold an 8-4 lead at halftime. Again, USC shut out its opponent in the third, rendering the Rainbow Wahine scoreless in shutting down back-to-back Hawai'i power plays. Stryker struck twice, and McAninch delivered her second, and USC was up 11-4 for the final frame. There, Ward kept collecting stops to get to 11 once again. Ausmus and Yaacobi each hit hat tricks, and Maggie Johnson sizzled in USC's final score in the 14-7 win.
NEXT:
USC takes aim at its second tournament title of the season when the Trojans face either Stanford or UCLA in the BKI championship game tomorrow (Feb. 23) at 1 p.m. in Irvine.
NOTABLE:
- With her two goals vs. Long Beach State, SR Tilly Kearns moved up to rank No. 11 all-time in career scoring at USC with 205 goals as a Trojan.
- With their goals in both games, SO Rachel Gazzaniga, SO Ava Stryker, SR Tilly Kearns and FR Emily Ausmus have all scored in every game for USC this season.
- With six goals vs. Long Beach State, Ausmus tied her career high.
- With three goals vs. Hawai'i, Ausmus also has now registered multiple-goal efforts in all 14 USC games this season.
2025 BARBARA KALBUS INVITATIONAL
GROUP PLAY
#1 USC 15, #8 Long Beach State
Saturday, Feb. 22 | Anteater Aquatics Complex (Irvine, Calif.)
USC 5 - 1 - 6 - 3 = 15
LBSU 3 - 1 - 0 - 3 = 7
SCORING:
USC — Emily Ausmus 3, Ava Stryker 3, Tilly Kearns 2, Alma Yaacobi 2, Morgan Netherton, Maggie Johnson, Isabel Zimmerman, Sofia Umeda, Rachel Gazzaniga.
LBSU — Jamie Oberman 2, Martina Cardona 2, Zelma Koka, Rita Guru Capel, Elisa Portillo.
SAVES: Jada Ward (USC) 11, LBSU n/a.
SEMIFINAL
#1 USC 14, #5 Hawai'i 7
Saturday, Feb. 22 | Anteater Aquatics Complex (Irvine, Calif.)
USC 4 - 4 - 3 - 3 = 14
UH 1 - 3 - 0 - 3 = 7
SCORING:
USC — Emily Ausmus 3, Ava Stryker 3, Alma Yaacobi 3, Meghan McAninch 2, Tilly Kearns, Rachel Gazzaniga, Maggie Johnson.
UH — Ema Vernoux 2, Jordan Weddenburn 2, Silvanne Siot, Camille Radosavlevic, Morgan Rios.
SAVES: Jada Ward (USC) 11, Daisy Logtens (UH) 8.
USC's day started early with an 8 a.m. clash against the Beach. Long Beach State scored early, but USC turned a one-goal game into a 5-2 lead after eight minutes of play as Rachel Gazzaniga and Maggie Johnson wrapped goals around a Jada Ward save. Scoring slowed in the second, but USC gripped a 6-3 advantage at halftime. As the fog began to clear at the venue, USC found its groove. The Beach would not score for the entirety of the third quarter while USC piled up six goals to power into a 12-3 lead entering the fourth. Tilly Kearns served up two goals in that push to move into sole possession of the No. 11 all-time scoring slot at USC, and her Trojans stayed the course in the fourth with a balanced effort to lock in a 15-7 final that was topped off by a field block from Sally McCarthy.
In the afternoon, USC squared off against No. 5 Hawai'i to fight for a spot in tomorrow's final. Emily Ausmus scored USC's first and fourth goals in the opening period while Ava Stryker and Tilly Kearns each provided fine finishes to help USC lead things 4-1 eight minutes in. In the second period, it was Alma Yaacobi who had the bookends on USC's scoring with two powerful strikes out of set. Meghan McAninch and Rachel Gazzaniga delivered as well, while Ward remained stalwart in the cage to help USC hold an 8-4 lead at halftime. Again, USC shut out its opponent in the third, rendering the Rainbow Wahine scoreless in shutting down back-to-back Hawai'i power plays. Stryker struck twice, and McAninch delivered her second, and USC was up 11-4 for the final frame. There, Ward kept collecting stops to get to 11 once again. Ausmus and Yaacobi each hit hat tricks, and Maggie Johnson sizzled in USC's final score in the 14-7 win.
NEXT:
USC takes aim at its second tournament title of the season when the Trojans face either Stanford or UCLA in the BKI championship game tomorrow (Feb. 23) at 1 p.m. in Irvine.
NOTABLE:
- With her two goals vs. Long Beach State, SR Tilly Kearns moved up to rank No. 11 all-time in career scoring at USC with 205 goals as a Trojan.
- With their goals in both games, SO Rachel Gazzaniga, SO Ava Stryker, SR Tilly Kearns and FR Emily Ausmus have all scored in every game for USC this season.
- With six goals vs. Long Beach State, Ausmus tied her career high.
- With three goals vs. Hawai'i, Ausmus also has now registered multiple-goal efforts in all 14 USC games this season.
2025 BARBARA KALBUS INVITATIONAL
GROUP PLAY
#1 USC 15, #8 Long Beach State
Saturday, Feb. 22 | Anteater Aquatics Complex (Irvine, Calif.)
USC 5 - 1 - 6 - 3 = 15
LBSU 3 - 1 - 0 - 3 = 7
SCORING:
USC — Emily Ausmus 3, Ava Stryker 3, Tilly Kearns 2, Alma Yaacobi 2, Morgan Netherton, Maggie Johnson, Isabel Zimmerman, Sofia Umeda, Rachel Gazzaniga.
LBSU — Jamie Oberman 2, Martina Cardona 2, Zelma Koka, Rita Guru Capel, Elisa Portillo.
SAVES: Jada Ward (USC) 11, LBSU n/a.
SEMIFINAL
#1 USC 14, #5 Hawai'i 7
Saturday, Feb. 22 | Anteater Aquatics Complex (Irvine, Calif.)
USC 4 - 4 - 3 - 3 = 14
UH 1 - 3 - 0 - 3 = 7
SCORING:
USC — Emily Ausmus 3, Ava Stryker 3, Alma Yaacobi 3, Meghan McAninch 2, Tilly Kearns, Rachel Gazzaniga, Maggie Johnson.
UH — Ema Vernoux 2, Jordan Weddenburn 2, Silvanne Siot, Camille Radosavlevic, Morgan Rios.
SAVES: Jada Ward (USC) 11, Daisy Logtens (UH) 8.
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
