USC Women's Water Polo Claims Seventh National Championship in Nail-Biting Victory Over Cal
Southern California secured their seventh national championship in women's water polo with a hard-fought 10-9 victory over California at the Canyonview Aquatic Center. Sinia Plotz scored early in each half, and Anna Reed made 10 crucial saves to lead the Trojans to victory. This win marks the first championship for head coach Casey Moon in his second season at USC, with their last title coming in 2021.
The game saw back-and-forth action, with Holly Dunn and Ava Stryker trading goals in the first quarter. USC took a 6-3 lead before Cal mounted a comeback, cutting the deficit to 7-6 at halftime. Plotz and Varro exchanged goals in the second half, keeping the game close.
In the final quarter, USC extended their lead to 10-8 before Cal scored to make it 10-9. Despite a late penalty shot opportunity for Cal, Reed's stellar performance in goal secured the victory for the Trojans. Rachel Gazzaniga's goal proved to be the game-winner, sealing the national championship for USC in a thrilling contest.