Women’s Water Polo Falls To UCLA In BKI Semifinal

Saturday, February 14

Irvine, Calif.

4:30 p.m.

USC

10-2

UCLA

9-0

Southern California

UCLA

Photo by: Nicole Hourigan

Women’s Water Polo Falls To UCLA In BKI Semifinal

February 14, 2026 | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif.- The USC women's water polo team faced off against crosstown rival UCLA in the semifinal game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Saturday evening.

In a defensive battle, the Trojans could not convert on the final shot opportunity as they fell to the Bruins 10-9.

#3 USC 9, #2 UCLA 10
With both teams trading possession to kick off the game, USC looked to strike first. Ava Stryker anticipated the play to get the steal and raced down to the other end to score the opening goal of the contest.

UCLA responded just 30 seconds later to knot things up at one apiece. Emily Ausmus found the back of the cage with just over a minute in the first.

Only one goal was scored by either team in the second frame and it came on a no-look pass from Rachel Gazzaniga to Stryker for the score.

The defense stood tall to shut the Bruins out in the quarter as they moved to the second half.

The offense for both teams picked up in the third quarter with 10 combined goals in the frame. Meghan McAninch, Maggie Johnson, Ausmus and Stryker all found the back of the cage as the score stood at 7-7 heading into the final quarter of play.

Alma Yaacobi and Ausmus scored in the fourth but three goals from the Bruins in the fourth sealed the game as USC fell 10-9.

Notables

Maggie Johnson put up a five-point performance with a goal and four helpers
Ava Stryker and Emily Ausmus each recorded a hat trick
The Women of Troy combined for 10 steals in the contest

Scoring: Ava Stryker (3), Emily Ausmus (3), Maggie Johnson (1), Alma Yaacobi (1), Meghan McAninch (1)

Saves: Anna Reed (8)

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