LONG BEACH, Calif.- The USC women’s water polo’s defensive dominance highlighted a strong team victory against Long Beach State. The Women of Troy held The Beach to just eight goals to double them up for their fifth ranked win of the season.<\/p>\n
#3 USC 16, #7 Long Beach State 8 The Beach got on the board with a six-on-five opportunity but Meghan McAninch<\/a> converted the penalty shot to close out the quarter with USC up 4-1.<\/p>\n Two goals from Alma Yaacobi<\/a> and a long rocket by Morgan Netherton<\/a> put the Women of Troy up a pair heading into the halftime break.<\/p>\n In a strong defensive frame, the Women of Troy held The Beach to just one goal to their five. In the eight minutes of play, Anna Reed<\/a> recorded five of her nine total saves and the defense added three field blocks.<\/p>\n With a steady lead in hand, USC closed out the contest with five goals from four different scorers in the final stanza to claim a 16-8 victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n Notables
\nScoring:\u00a0Ava Stryker<\/a> (4) Emily Ausmus<\/a> (3) Maggie Johnson<\/a> (2) Alma Yaacobi<\/a> (2) Rachel Gazzaniga<\/a> (2) Morgan Netherton<\/a> (1) Meghan McAninch<\/a> (1) EJ Hourigan<\/a> (1)<\/p>\n
\nAva Stryker<\/a> and the Trojan offense quickly overwhelmed the Long Beach State defense to begin the game. The junior attacker registered three goals in a three minute span to put USC up early.<\/p>\n
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\n\tAva Stryker<\/a> recorded one of\u00a0her best performances of the season thus far, going four-for-six and added two steals and an assist.
\n\tEmily Ausmus<\/a> and Ava Stryker<\/a> tallied five points apiece.
\n\tThe Trojans racked up seven field blocks for the second time this season.\u00a0
\n\tAnna Reed<\/a> recorded nine saves in the win.
\n\tBy allowing just eight goals, this is the sixth game this season that the Trojans have held an opponent to single digit scoring.
\n\tSinia Plotz<\/a> recorded a career-high four steals.
\n\tWith 11 steals, this is the sixth game this season that the Trojans have accumulated double-digit steals.
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