NCAA Women’s Water Polo: Cal Upsets No. 1 Stanford, Books NCAA Final Date with USC
Fourth-seeded Cal upset Stanford, 13-11, in the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Tournament semifinals, setting up a finals date with USC.
The second-seeded Trojans used a three-goal run early in the fourth quarter to beat UCLA, 11-10. Alma Yaccobi scored the game-winner with 6:06 left. Goalie Anna Reed made two stops in the final three minutes, third-seeded UCLA struck the post once and Ava Stryker came up with a steal in the final minute.
The teams square off Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET at Canyonview Aquatic Center for the national title.
Cal avenged two losses to No. 1 Stanford this year, including a 14-7 decision in February, and losses to USC and UCLA at the MPSF Tournament.
Cal led 5-4 after one quarter and never trailed. The game was tied at halftime, but Cal rattled off goals on five straight possession in the third quarter to take control. Rosalie Hassett started it with a penalty hot. Harper Price set up a Julianne Snyder goal, then Julia Bonaguidi scored on the man advantage for a 10-7 lead.
Eszter Varro set that up. After a Stanford timeout to stanch the bleeding, Bonaguidi set up Varro for a marker, then Varro drew and exclusion and Price fed Abbi Magee for a 12-7 lead with 4:29 left in the third.
That was enough on a tremendous defensive night from Cal, who limited the Cardinal to 11-for-34 shooting (32.4 percent). Talia Fonseca had to make only two saves.
Magee led the Golden Bears with four goals. Bonaguidi scored three times, and Hassett added two.
Jenna Flynn paced Stanford with four goals. Juliette Dhalluin and Sienna Green scored twice apiece.
In the nightcap, Emily Ausmus and Maggie Johnson scored three times each for USC, which lost its first two meetings with UCLA this year before winning the last two. Reed made nine saves. USC’s defense held UCLA to just 3-for-12 on the power play.
Taylor Smith scored four goals for UCLA, which used a 4-1 edge in the third quarter to build a 9-8 lead. Smith scored the last two of the frame after setting up Lily Gess’ goal. Elektra Urbatsch scored twice.
USC is in the final for the eighth time in the last decade. The Trojans won their sixth national title in 2021.
California was last in the final in 2024. The Golden Bears are seeking the program’s first NCAA title, with USC, Stanford and UCLA monopolizing all 24 since the championships began in 2001. Cal is playing for the national title for the third time in the NCAA era, having won three national titles before NCAA sponsorship from 1996-98.