By SwimSwam on SwimSwam
Courtesy: USC Athletics
LA JOLLA, Calif. – The USC women’s water polo team claimed the NCAA Championship in a one-goal battle on Sunday, holding off the No. 4 seed California for a 10-9 win to secure the program’s eighth national title.
#3 USC 10, #4 California 9 USC came out composed and efficient to open the game. Sinia Plotz got the Trojans on the board first, finishing a clean look off a pass from Morgan Netherton. After California answered, USC regained control with a well-placed cross from Rachel Gazzaniga to Ava Knepper for the go-ahead score. Late in the quarter, Ava Stryker capitalized on a 6-on-5 opportunity, attacking early off an assist from Meghan McAninch to give USC a 3-2 lead to end the opening frame.
The Trojans created a separation in the second quarter behind their offense. Emily Ausmus converted on the power play off a feed from Stryker, and Netherton followed with a low, skip shot finish to extend the lead. Stryker added another on a power play, this time off an assist from Ausmus, before Ausmus struck again in the final seconds, finishing off a pass from Maggie Johnson to send USC into halftime up 7-6.
Out of the break, USC stayed in control. Johnson set up Plotz for her second goal of the day, bouncing it off the goalkeeper, and McAninch followed with another skip shot on a 6-on-5 chance, assisted by Stryker, to push the Trojans ahead 9-7. California continued to respond, trimming the deficit to one heading into the fourth.
In the final frame, USC delivered the decisive moment early. Gazzaniga showed patience on a power play before finishing a look off a pass from Netherton to make it 10-8. California answered with a penalty goal to cut it to one, but the Trojans held firm the rest of the way with key stops including a man down defensive stand.
Notables
Anna Reed recorded a career-high 14 saves and added three steals in goal. Emily Ausmus was named the tournament MVP after totaling 15 goals, six assists, and 21 points across the NCAA Tournament. Ausmus, Reed, and Ava Stryker were named to the NCAA All-Tournament First Team. Rachel Gazzaniga was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Second Team. USC held California, which entered averaging over 14 goals per game, to just nine. California was limited to scoring single digits for just the fourth time this season. Sinia Plotz went a perfect 2-for-2 from the field with two steals. The Trojans held the Bears to 3-for-13 on their power-play conversions. Abbi Magee, one of Cal’s primary scoring threats, was held goalless after entering as a consistent multi-goal scorer. Julia Bonaguidi has had multiple high-scoring games this season, but was limited to zero goals against USC. USC captured its 139th overall national title and 116th NCAA team championship, including 39th and 29th titles by women’s teams, respectively.Scoring: Sinia Plotz (2), Ava Stryker (2), Emily Ausmus (2), Meghan McAninch (1), Ava Knepper (1), Rachel Gazzaniga (1), Morgan Netherton (1)
Saves: Anna Reed (14)
Courtesy: Cal Athletics
LA JOLLA – The California women’s water polo team put forth a ferocious effort in the NCAA title match but could not close the gap in the final stretch to take a 10-9 loss to USC at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla. It was the Golden Bears’ second trip to the national championship game in three years, and Cal kept it close throughout the second half before time ran out. The Bears wrap a tremendous season in which they downed top-seeded reigning champion Stanford in the NCAA semifinals and now finish with a 16-8 overall record.
“The chemistry on this team is special,” Cal head coach Coralie Simmons said. “We’ve just gotten better and better throughout the season and we knew we deserved to be here. It hurts to lose this one, but we believe in ourselves and we are so thankful for our seniors. It’s been a joy to see this group grow and thrive, and we know our future is bright.”
Leading the scoring charge for the Bears was Eszter Varró with a game-high three goals, while Holly Dunn and Despoina Drakotou added two goals each for Cal. Goalie Talia Fonseca hauled in 10 saves for the Bears.
Cal had the Trojans in reach for much of the game, locking things even twice in the first period on a 5-meter penalty shot from Drakotou and then a 6-on-5 rocket from Dunn. USC managed to build a three-goal lead in the second period before Varró reined the Trojans back in with back-to-back goals to make it a 6-5 margin. USC moved back ahead late in the second, only to see Dunn deliver her second with a sizzling buzzer-beater to make it 7-6 for halftime.
Each time USC looked to pad its lead, the Bears fired right back. A 6-on-5 slam from Varró got it to 8-7, and then Julianne Snyder hammered one home in the final minute of the third to put the Bears one back at 9-8 entering the fourth. Again, the Trojans maneuvered to a two-goal advantage, and again the Bears battled back. A savvy play from Feline Voordouw earned Cal another penalty shot, this one also converted by Drakotou to make it 10-9 with 5:23 to go. A defensive battle ensued, with both teams coming up empty on power play chances as USC emerged with the title.
At the close of the competition, Cal had three players earn NCAA All-Tournament honors. Julia Bonaguidi and Eszter Varró were both named to the NCAA All-Tournament First Team, and Abbi Magee earned a place on the NCAA All-Tournament Second Team.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP USC 10, Cal 9 April 26, 2026 | Canyonview Aquatic Center (La Jolla, Calif.) CAL 2 – 4 – 3 – 1 = 9 USC 3 – 4 – 3 – 1 = 10
SCORING: CAL – Estzer Varró 3, Despoina Drakotou 2, Holly Dunn 2, Kate Meyer, Julianne Snyder. USC – Sinia Plotz 2, Ava Stryker 2, Emily Ausmus 2, Ava Knepper, Morgan Netherton, Meghan McAninch, Rachel Gazzaniga.
SAVES: Talia Fonseca (CAL) 10, Anna Reed (STAN) 14.
NOTABLE: – With two goals today, Despoina Drakotou finishes as Cal’s top scorer this season with 48 goals. – That total ties her at No. 5 for most goals scored by a Cal freshman. – With her three goals today, Eszter Varró has scored at least once in Cal’s last five games. – With 10 saves, Talia Fonseca recorded her fourth double-digit save outing of the season and ninth of her career. – Cal was in the NCAA final for the third time in program history, following second-place finishes in 2011 and 2024. – Prior to NCAA sponsorship, Cal placed second in three straight collegiate national championships (1996-98). – Cal’s Coralie Simmons is the only woman head coach to coach in an NCAA final (twice: last in 2024). – This was the first-ever Cal-USC NCAA final. – The teams last met in NCAA action in the 2022 semifinals (9-7 USC win). – Cal’s Holly Dunn became the first New Zealander to play in an NCAA women’s water polo championship game.
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