No. 2 USC Women’s Water Polo Picks Up Another Win In Honolulu, Beating San Diego State 16-7

HONOLULU, HAWAI'I — The No. 2 USC women's water polo team wrapped up its Spring Break trip with another decisive victory, topping No. 24 San Diego State 16-7 at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex in Honolulu to improve to 19-1 overall on the year. The Trojans got a career-high 10 saves from freshman goalie Jada Ward to help lock in the win, while Bayley Weber, Grace Tehaney and Fanni Muzsnay each tallied hat tricks for the Trojan cause.

USC opened up a 5-0 lead on the Aztecs with a pair of goals apiece from Tilly Kearns and Bayley Weber to go with a blast from Alejandra Aznar. San Diego State cracked the USC defense and goalie Jada Ward just once in the first half while the Trojans poured on 11 goals. Grace Tehaney and Weber both had hat tricks in place by halftime as USC led it 11-1 at the break.

In the third period, Claire Haas and Emma Lawson each tallied their first goals of the day, and Fanni Muzsnay delivered her second to help USC lead it 14-4 entering the fourth. Muzsnay made it three with a strike in the final frame, and Christina Crum would wrap up USC's offensive attack with a 5-meter penalty shot that helped put the finishing touches on a 16-7 win by the Trojans over the Aztecs.

NEXT: 
USC returns to home waters next week for its first action at Uytengsu Aquatics Center since February 18. The Trojans host Indiana in an MPSF matchup at 12 p.m. on Saturday (March 25).

NOTABLE:
- Goalie Jada Ward recorded a career-high 10 saves today.
- With three goals today, Bayley Weber continues to lead the team in multiple-goal games, now with 15 this season.
- With their goals today, Weber and Tilly Kearns lead the team with goals in 18 games this season.
- USC's shutout of SDSU in the second period marked the 14th time this season that the Trojans have kept an opponent scoreless during a full period of regulation play.
- USC's win over San Diego State was its 41st straight over the Aztecs.

#2 USC 16, #24 San Diego State 7
March 19, 2023 | Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
USC    8 - 3 - 3 - 2 = 16
SDSU  1 - 0 - 3 - 3 = 7

SCORING:
USC — Bayley Weber 3, Grace Tehaney 3, Fanni Muzsnay 3, Tilly Kearns 2, Alejandra Aznar, Hannah Meyer, Claire Haas, Emma Lawson, Christina Crum.
SDSU —Rose Kanemy 3, Katie Ratcliff, Klara Goldstein, Claudia Valdes, Amanda Legaspi.

SAVES: Jada Ward (USC) 10, Tiaare Ahovelo (SDSU) 2, Mandy Lagerlof (SDSU) 5.