USC Sets National Win Streak Record
March 21, 2017 MPSF Women's Water Polo Release 10
USC (1-0 MPSF, 21-0 Overall) defeated No. 15 Indiana 15-2 (Mar. 16) and No. 8 Hawaii 9-8 (Mar. 17), to set the all-time NCAA win streak record, currently at 48 games. Stephania Haralabidis scored five goals -- including the game-winner with 19 seconds left -- to anchor a 9-8 comeback win vs. UH. Four of those goals came in the second half, as USC worked to fight out of a two-goal deficit and get the road win. Haralabidis scored twice vs. IU, also played at UH. The Trojans, who have not lost since the 2015 NCAA Semifinals, host three games this week. Princeton visits on Thursday (Mar. 23, 5 pm; Pac-12 Networks), San Jose State Saturday (Mar. 25) in MPSF action, followed by Hartwick to complete a doubleheader that day.
UCLA (3-0 MPSF, 14-1 Overall) defeated California at home, 10-4, this past Saturday (Mar. 18) in MPSF action. Maddie Musselman scored the game's lone first quarter goal, and the Bruins were not caught. UCLA used a 7-2 second half run to seal the win. Rachel Fattal, who just last week joined the MPSF's 200-goal club, tacked on four and climbed into the program's top-three all-time with 204. Kodi Hill added two goals and Carlee Kapana collected 11 saves. UCLA is off until it travels to Hawaii to face San Diego State, UH, and UCSB (Mar. 30-Apr. 1).
ARIZONA STATE (1-1 MPSF, 17-4 Overall) won all three of its games at the Roadrunner Invitational at CSU Bakersfield (Mar. 17-18). The Sun Devils defeated CSUB in an MPSF game, 16-8, as well as Princeton 7-6 and CSU East Bay, 12-5. Lena Mihailovic put away five goals in the conference win. Alkistis Benekou recorded a hat trick against both CSUB and CSUEB. Arizona State travels to California Saturday (Mar. 25) in an MPSF contest.
SAN JOSE STATE (0-1 MPSF, 9-13 Overall) clipped Harvard this past Friday (Mar. 17) at West Valley College, 5-3. Tayler Peters made her third appearance of the season in the cage, collecting 13 saves while limiting the Crimson to three goals, including a 1-for-10 power play. The Spartans return to MPSF action Saturday (Mar. 25) at USC.
CSU BAKERSFIELD (0-4 MPSF, 12-12 Overall) hosted the Roadrunner Invitational last weekend, highlighted by Kristen Jensen's three goals and Courtney Wahlstrom's 15 saves in a 9-5 win over CSU East Bay (Mar. 18). Wahlstrom now has 873 career saves, 22 away from breaking into the MPSF's top-10 all-time. Nicola Barrett and Ashley Paz each scored hat tricks in the conference game vs. Arizona State. CSUB visits Stanford Saturday (Mar. 18) in MPSF action.
CALIFORNIA (1-1 MPSF, 13-4 Overall) dropped an MPSF game at UCLA (Mar. 18), 10-4, minus the services of four of its key players to injuries. The multiple-goal scorer for Cal was Anna Illes with two goals. Cal hosts Arizona State in another MPSF game Saturday (Mar. 25).
STANFORD (1-0 MPSF, 14-1 Overall) was off last week, next in action when CSU Bakersfield visits on Mar. 25. The Cardinal won its MPSF opener on the road at Arizona State (Mar. 11), 9-3. Maggie Steffens put away three goals in that win, and three more across two other wins in Tempe against Marist (19-1) and La Verne (21-3). She became the fifth player in Stanford history to reach 200 career goals, and is one of 42 players all-time in the MPSF to be in the elite club. Makenzie Fischer scored three of her five goals in the conference win.
