University Southern California Trojans
Sunday, February 1
San Diego, Calif
1:30 p.m.
USC
0
9
vs
12
#3 UCLA
0
1
2
3
4
F
UCLA
3
3
2
4
12
Southern California
1
0
3
5
9
Photo by: Nicole Hourigan
Late Rally At Triton Invitational Comes Up Short For No. 2 Women’s Water Polo
February 01, 2026 | Women's Water Polo
SAN DIEGO, Calif.- The championship game of the Triton Invitational featured a rematch of the 2025 title game between the USC women's water polo team and the UCLA Bruins.
Although the Trojans chipped away at the Bruins' with a second half rally, the comeback fell short as USC was defeated 12-9.
#2 USC 9, #3 UCLA 12
USC got its first goal of the game from EJ Hourigan in response to a quick goal from UCLA.
In a defensive showdown, the Bruins had the edge as the score stood at 6-1 going into the halftime break.
Ava Stryker found the back of the net to get the Trojans going in the second half. The Bruins scored two goals back to back before Rachel Gazzaniga got the lob and put the ball in for the goal to stop the Bruins from gaining momentum.
Emily Ausmus converted a penalty shot to cut the UCLA lead in half with a quarter to play.
Although the Women of Troy outscored the Bruins 5-4 in the final stanza, USC ran out of time to complete the comeback.
Notables
Saves: Anna Reed (8)
Up Next
USC will be back on the road next weekend to face Long Beach State on Saturday at 12:00 p.m..
Although the Trojans chipped away at the Bruins' with a second half rally, the comeback fell short as USC was defeated 12-9.
#2 USC 9, #3 UCLA 12
USC got its first goal of the game from EJ Hourigan in response to a quick goal from UCLA.
In a defensive showdown, the Bruins had the edge as the score stood at 6-1 going into the halftime break.
Ava Stryker found the back of the net to get the Trojans going in the second half. The Bruins scored two goals back to back before Rachel Gazzaniga got the lob and put the ball in for the goal to stop the Bruins from gaining momentum.
Emily Ausmus converted a penalty shot to cut the UCLA lead in half with a quarter to play.
Although the Women of Troy outscored the Bruins 5-4 in the final stanza, USC ran out of time to complete the comeback.
Notables
- Ava Stryker led the offense with her first hat trick of the season.
- Anna Reed tallied eight saves and two steals in goal.
- USC outscored UCLA in the second half 8-6.
Saves: Anna Reed (8)
Up Next
USC will be back on the road next weekend to face Long Beach State on Saturday at 12:00 p.m..
Team Stats
UCLA
USC
Shots
12
29
Goals
12
9
Assists
0
4
Points
12
13
Exclusions
14
12
Steals
0
4
Sprints
0
1
1
Bia Mantellato
7:41
EJ Hourigan
7:20
Katherine O'Dea
1:52
Taylor Smith
0:03
2
Emma Lineback
3:18
Taylor Smith
1:26
Bia Mantellato
0:41
3
Ava Stryker
7:26
Katherine O'Dea
7:09
Taylor Smith
5:33
Rachel Gazzaniga
4:22
Emily Ausmus
1:40
4
Taylor Smith
7:01
Ava Stryker
6:46
Carly McMurray
6:10
Emily Ausmus
4:48
Rachel Gazzaniga
4:11
Anna Pearson
2:17
Morgan Netherton
1:38
Taylor Smith
0:11
Ava Stryker
0:00
Game Leaders
Shots
6
Goals
2
Assists
1
Points
3
Shots
6
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Shots
4
Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Shots
3
Goals
3
Assists
1
Points
4
Players Mentioned
ATT
/ Women's Water PoloC
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water PoloATT
/ Women's Water Polo
ATT
/ Women's Water PoloUSC Water Polo's Emily Ausmus | Trojans Live 3.24.25
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