USC wins tight 10-9 NCAA women's water polo title | JQJO

LA JOLLA, Calif. — Sinia Plotz scored to begin each half and Anna Reed made 10 saves as Southern California edged California 10-9 at the Canyonview Aquatic Center to win the Trojans' seventh NCAA women's water polo championship. The victory gave coach Casey Moon his first title in his second season; USC last claimed the championship in 2021. No. 3 seed USC reached the final after an 11-10 semifinal win over second-seeded UCLA.

The match featured multiple lead changes, power-play goals and late scoring sequences. Early in the game Holly Dunn scored on a power play with 23 seconds left in the first quarter to tie it, but Ava Stryker answered with seven seconds remaining to put USC ahead 3-2. Emily Ausmus and Stryker pushed USC in front 6-3 before Eszter Varro scored twice to cut the deficit. USC led 7-6 at halftime. Plotz opened the second half for another two-goal lead; Meghan McAninch added a power-play goal, and Despoina Drakotou converted a 5-meter penalty with 5:23 left to provide the final margin. Cal, the fourth-seeded Golden Bears (16-8), reached the title game after upsetting top-ranked Stanford 13-11 in the semifinals under coach Coralie Simmons.