The No. 3 USC Trojans returned to Uytengsu Aquatics Center for the first time in over a month and delivered a dominant offensive performance, securing a 16-6 victory over the No. 8 Indiana Hoosiers
The Trojans set the tone early with a 3-0 scoring run in the first two minutes of the game from sophomore attacker Alma Yaacobi, sophomore attacker Emily Ausmus and junior attacker Ava Stryker.
“I think it’s always important to start any game like that, with a 0-0 mentality no matter what quarter it is, what the score is,” Stryker said. “When you practice it over and over again every day it becomes how you just do everything. So I think the environment we have is aggressive 24/7. It never fails to help us during games.”
The Indiana Hoosiers responded with a goal from senior guard Grace Klingler and capitalized on a powerplay opportunity following an exclusion from USC’s senior utility Sinia Plotz. to trail 3-2, along with a goal by senior attacker Savannah Batchelor.
USC did not hesitate, taking control over the game for a 10-0 scoring run initiated by a goal from senior center Rachel Gazzaniga and eventually leading to an exclusion from Indiana to create a scoring advantage answered with a goal by sophomore attacker Ava Knepper, extending the lead 14-3 USC.
“I think it’s really important throughout all four quarters that we are really aggressive and that we really utilize every game, every possession, every match, and just the different lineups between everyone in the pool,” Ausmus said. “Being aggressive is something that we try to embody as a team and individually.”.
Making her Team USA Water Polo debut in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ausmus is no stranger to being an aggressive defensive player as she reached a season-high five steals and two field blocks by the end of the match. Notably, the backbone of their defensive success lies behind redshirt sophomore Anna Reed who had an incredible 10 saves by the end of the third period.
The Trojans entered the last period with a comfortable 14-4 lead. However, they never let up their defense, fighting to finish at the end. A timeout from Indiana left the game with two minutes remaining, starting a back-and-fourth possession battle after an exclusion by USC’s center Madison Haaland-Ford, giving the Hoosiers an offensive advantage, but ended by a block from sophomore attacker Meghan McAninch.
USC recovered the ball, but a block from Indiana’s Batchelor allowed a turnover and a goal for the Hoosiers, trailing 16-5. In the final 23 seconds of the game, the pass from Stryker to McAninch ultimately secured the dominant 16-6 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers.
Family and friends in the crowd cheered, representing the victorious feeling as USC remains undefeated at home.
“Playing at home is the best”, head coach Casey Moon said. “You know I think we have the best facility in the country and for us to represent our facility and have our women play somewhere where they are really comfortable … is a really big plus for us.”
The Trojans improved their overall season record to 13-2 and will travel back on the road to play in the Convergence Tournament in Claremont, CA on March 6 and March 7.