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Stanford Women's Water Polo (15-0, 2-0) is at USC (23-1, 2-0) for their one conference game at 1PM today.  At a non-conference game in Irvine, Stanford defeated USC 10-6.  The teams will likely play each other 4 times this year (MPSF tourney, NCAA tourney) so this is still early.

Whichever team wins today will almost certainly have the #1 spot later in the MPSF tourney, which then sets the seeding for the NCAA tourney.  

So today's game is a critical match, literally worthy of the Olympics.

The WWP team has a strong chance to win a national championship this year.  2023 Stanford All-Americans Jenna Flynn, Ryann Neushul and Jewel Roemer plus Ella Woodhead spent 2024 in training for Team USA while Serena Browne competed for Canada.  All 5 came back this year.  But, wait, that's not all.  Juliette Dhalluin, a 2023 third-team All-American transferred in from Arizona State.  And, Sophia Sanders is the Cardinal’s leading returning scorer from last year.

USC is no slouch either.  They field one US Olympian, one Australian Olympian, and two Team USA members.

The game will be available on OverNght ($12/month or $105/yr), or you can follow the live stats.

[M T]

Stanford Women's Water Polo (15-0, 2-0) is at USC (23-1, 2-0) for their one conference game at 1PM today.  At a non-conference game in Irvine, Stanford defeated USC 10-6.  The teams will likely play each other 4 times this year (MPSF tourney, NCAA tourney) so this is still early.

Whichever team wins today will almost certainly have the #1 spot later in the MPSF tourney, which then sets the seeding for the NCAA tourney.  

So today's game is a critical match, literally worthy of the Olympics.

The WWP team has a strong chance to win a national championship this year.  2023 Stanford All-Americans Jenna Flynn, Ryann Neushul and Jewel Roemer plus Ella Woodhead spent 2024 in training for Team USA while Serena Browne competed for Canada.  All 5 came back this year.  But, wait, that's not all.  Juliette Dhalluin, a 2023 third-team All-American transferred in from Arizona State.  And, Sophia Sanders is the Cardinal’s leading returning scorer from last year.

USC is no slouch either.  They field one US Olympian, one Australian Olympian, and two Team USA members.

The game will be available on OverNght ($12/month or $105/yr), or you can follow the live stats.

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Stanford seems to be controlling the defensive end.  Stanford was up 3-0 until a USC power play in the last half minute.
Q1 ends: Stanford 3   USC 1
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USC scored first in Q2 but then Stanford scored twice to lead by 3.
But USC scored twice to get within one.
Q2 ends: Stanford 5 USC 4

To my eye, Stanford is playing better than USC, but the game is closer than I'd want.

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A good quarter for Stanford. USC didn't score, but Stanford scored twice.
Q3 ends: Stanford 7 USC 4

But, a 3 goal lead is not secure in water polo. Stanford needs a couple of goals to put it out of reach.

[M T]

Stanford seems to be controlling the defensive end.  Stanford was up 3-0 until a USC power play in the last half minute.
Q1 ends: Stanford 3   USC 1
----

USC scored first in Q2 but then Stanford scored twice to lead by 3.
But USC scored twice to get within one.
Q2 ends: Stanford 5 USC 4

To my eye, Stanford is playing better than USC, but the game is closer than I'd want.

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A good quarter for Stanford. USC didn't score, but Stanford scored twice.
Q3 ends: Stanford 7 USC 4

But, a 3 goal lead is not secure in water polo. Stanford needs a couple of goals to put it out of reach.

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4th quarter

Something I hadn't seen before:  USC wins the sprint (they got to the ball first in all 4 quarters) and immediately calls a timeout.
Presumably this was to save a handful of seconds to get their players in position, but it doesn't work out as Stanford intercepts a pass.

But then, Stanford breaks down.  USC gets 3 fast break goals, to tie the game at 7-7 after 2:20 in Q4, at the 5:40 mark.
5:08 Stanford scores 32 seconds later on a power play.  Stanford  8-7
4:42 USC scores 20 seconds later, 8-8
2:11 USC scores a natural goal after Stanford blocks a shot,  8-9 USC
1:57 Stanford scores 14 seconds later on a power play,  9-9.
1:37 USC scores 20 seconds later  9-10 USC
1:29 Stanford scores 8 seconds later,  10-10
0:59 USC scores 30 seconds later on a power play, 10-11 USC
0:48 Stanford scores 9 seconds later, 11-11
0:22 USC scores 26 seconds later, 11-12 USC
Stanford's shot with 7 on 6 is blocked

Fourth quarter: USC scores 8 goals, twice as many as they had in the first 3 quarters. Ouch.

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4th quarter

Something I hadn't seen before:  USC wins the sprint (they got to the ball first in all 4 quarters) and immediately calls a timeout.
Presumably this was to save a handful of seconds to get their players in position, but it doesn't work out as Stanford intercepts a pass.

But then, Stanford breaks down.  USC gets 3 fast break goals, to tie the game at 7-7 after 2:20 in Q4, at the 5:40 mark.
5:08 Stanford scores 32 seconds later on a power play.  Stanford  8-7
4:42 USC scores 20 seconds later, 8-8
2:11 USC scores a natural goal after Stanford blocks a shot,  8-9 USC
1:57 Stanford scores 14 seconds later on a power play,  9-9.
1:37 USC scores 20 seconds later  9-10 USC
1:29 Stanford scores 8 seconds later,  10-10
0:59 USC scores 30 seconds later on a power play, 10-11 USC
0:48 Stanford scores 9 seconds later, 11-11
0:22 USC scores 26 seconds later, 11-12 USC
Stanford's shot with 7 on 6 is blocked

Fourth quarter: USC scores 8 goals, twice as many as they had in the first 3 quarters. Ouch.