CWPA Top Ten: All Eyes on Los Angeles where #1 USC and #2 Stanford Square Off Saturday

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Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Photo Courtesy: Angela Kiamco

LOS ANGELES, CA. There were no changes in the Top Ten in the Collegiate Water Polo Association’s weekly Top 25 poll—but action this week could result in a great deal of movement. To kick it off, the nation’s top two teams are playing tomorrow in Los Angeles; #1 USC will seek to extend a 36-match winning streak against #2 Stanford at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. But much more in store on a weekend when conference rivalries—and the race for NCAA Women’s Water Polo Tournament berths—takes center stage.

[Stanford vs. USC: Tale of the Water Polo Tape]

There’s much to be said about the situation at USC (20-0)—though with an on-going investigation no one’s gone on the record about the biggest story in the sport in a decade. Speculation is wildly rampant regarding additional fallout—including sanctions and loss of championship hardware—from the allegations against former head coach Jovan Vavic. This weekend, there’s only ONE thing to worry about for Interim Head Coach Casey Moon’s squad: The Cardinal of Stanford. Given the talent on this year’s squad, and a rally ‘round the flag approach for anyone associated with both the Trojan women’s and men’s program, it will not be surprising if this turns into a lop-sided contest—though in the last four matches between the programs, all won by the Trojans, the difference has been six goals.

#2 Stanford (14-1; 2-0 MPSF) is as consistent a team as there is in the country, and of losses losses the past three years five have been to USC. Loaded with experienced stars like Aria and Makenzie Fischer, Kat Klass and Madison Berggren as well as impressive newcomers such as Ryann Neushul and Madison Stamen, the Cardinal must be bursting with anticipation for tomorrow’s match. What makes this contest appealing is that the Cardinal have a huge edge in coaching; Head Coach John Tanner’s been at this for 21 seasons and is sure to pull out all the stops to knock off his program’s main nemesis, especially when they’re so vulnerable.

Unlike other Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) teams, UCLA is not playing a conference foe. Today at the Spieker Aquatics Center, the #3 Bruins (19-3; 3-0 MPSF) will face #7 Pacific in their final non-conference match-up of the season. MPSF results are most important to Head Coach Adam Wright, but a contest against a foe like the Tigers is yet another measuring stick of where Wright’s team is a little over a year into his tenure as women’s coach. With matches remaining against Stanford, San Jose State—and a season finale against arch-rival USC—the Bruins may be tempted to look past the Tigers, but after tough non-conference matches earlier this season, they won’t.

January 27, 2019; Spieker Aquatics Center, Berkeley, CA, USA; Womens Water Polo:Cal Cup : California Golden Bears vs UCLA Bruins Exhibition Game; UCLA Attacker Maddie Musselman guarded by California Attacker Georgia Bogle Photo credit: Catharyn Hayne

Maddie Musselman is still scoring – 43 so far in 2019. Photo Courtesy: Catharyn Hayne

After MPSF losses to USC and UCLA, #4 California (13-3; 1-1 MPSF) will get another crack at the top next month, when they face Stanford, their biggest rival, in the annual Big Splash contest that concludes the regular season. If the Golden Bears have any hope of avoiding the top-seed in both the MPSF and NCAA tournaments, they’ll need to win out the rest of the regular season, and tomorrow’s non-conference match against Hawai’i in Honolulu represents a big opportunity reaffirm the gap between the Big Four and everyone else in NCAA varsity polo.

#5 Hawai’i (13-4; 2-0 Big West) quickly recovered from yet another loss to USC—the 24th straight defeat at the hands of the Trojans—and beat Big West foe California State University at Northridge (CSUN). Now comes a pivotal match with Cal; a win will push the Rainbow Wahine up into the fourth spot in the polls and may reward Maureen Cole’s team with an NCAA berth no matter how they fare in the Big West tournament. But putting too much stock in this match may be short-sided, as next weekend Hawai’i travels to Irvine for a Big West contest against UC Irvine; the Anteaters upset them in last year’s Big West final, so that’s perhaps more important than beating Cal.

The Michigan (15-8) has shown all season that it can compete with the nation’s best; now the Wolverines have to take care of business in their own conference. After pummeling ex-Collegiate Water Polo Association rival Indiana 16-8, Head Coach Marcelo Leonardi will need his team to focus on CWPA foes Brown, Princeton and St. Francis, PA.—who they’ll play next weekend at Harvard. He’ll also likely have to ignore the pundits who suggest that his success recruiting foreign athletes, California roots and success in Ann Arbor make him a candidate to lead the Trojan women at USC.

Speculation about the future Southern Cal coach has also fallen on James Graham, Pacific men’s and women’s coach . Smart, articulate and focused. in 2013 his men were the last non-Pac 12 squad to advance to an NCAA final. Yet another coach touted for his ability to recruit international players, what makes Graham attractive is why his squad will not let up against UCLA—or anybody. He’s a fierce competitor who wants to prove that Pacific (8-7- 1-0 GCC) belongs in the discussion regarding the nation’s best, and he’s got a chance to make a statement against the Bruins.

Arizona State (10-8; 1-2 MPSF) has had a tough year, with non-conference losses to Hawai’i, Mishigan and UC Santa Barbara. But, given time, Head Coach Todd Clapper can prepare his team to be competitive with its MPSF rivals. With the opportunity to capture three wins this weekend against San Diego State, Siena and MPSF foe San Jose State, the Sun Devils should be well equipped for an April 13th showdown against USC—where they’ll look to tag the Trojans with a loss for the first time in three years.

Holding down the CWPA #9 spot is UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos (18-5; 1-0 Big West) have soared as high as seventh in the polls, but as the season winds down, the only numbers that matter are their scores against Big West opponents. With a win already against UC Irvine, a victory over #11 UC Davis will buoy Head Coach Serela Kay’s squad as they look for top seeding in their conference tournament. The difference maker for UCSB’s season will be how they far against Hawai’i—the Big West’s other heavyweight. That match will come in two weeks in Honolulu.

The looming tournament threat for all of the Anteater’s (13-8; 0-1 Big West) Big West foes is Mary Brooks. The conference’s best player in 2016 and 2017, Brooks took a break and watched as her UC Irvine teammates won without her. Now she’s back and—with 38 goals in 21 games, it safe to say that red-shirt senior will have a huge impact on her team down the stretch. Couple this with Head Coach Dan Klatt’s ability to get the most out of his players when it counts, including titles the past Xtwoyears and no one in the Big West should get too comfortable—including CSUN, who the Anteaters face tomorrow in Northridge.

[Q&A with Mary Brooks on her Polo Passion]

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