Women's Water Polo Edged by USC in National Semifinals

Saturday, April 25

La Jolla, Calif.

6:00 PM (PT)

UCLA

21-5

USC

23-3

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	Final F
USC (W)	4	3	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11
UCLA (W)	3	2	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10

Photo by: Mac Brown

Women's Water Polo Edged by USC in National Semifinals

April 25, 2026 | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

LA JOLLA, Calif. – LA JOLLA, Calif. – Second-seeded UCLA fell to No. 3 seed UCLA 11-10 Saturday evening in the National Collegiate Water Polo Championship semifinal round at Canyonview Aquatic Center. The Bruins held a 9-8 lead, their first of the game, going into the fourth quarter.

Taylor Smith scored four goals to lead UCLA (21-5). Lauren Steele recorded 11 saves for the Bruins. Emily Ausmus and Maggie Johnson scored three goals apiece to pace the Trojans (24-3), who advance to face No. 4 seed California in Sunday's national championship game. Anna Reed logged nine saves for USC.

The Trojans opened scoring with a pair, one on a power play and the other at even strength. Carly McMurray struck first for UCLA just past the midway point of the quarter, but USC pushed its lead back to two less than a minute later. Elektra Urbatsch single-handedly pulled the Bruins level, though, scoring back-to-back goals at 1:59 (power play) and 1:26 (even). The Trojans' converted one more power-play chance and held a 4-3 lead at the end of one.

Anna Pearson, who drew seven exclusions and had four steals on the night, scored one minute into the second. USC one-upped UCLA at 4:45, only to have Smith net her first with the help of a six-on-five advantage. The Trojans closed the quarter strong, however, scoring the final two goals to take a 7-5 lead into halftime.

Smith sent a penalty shot past Reed at 5:46 of the third quarter to bring the Bruin deficit back to one. USC responded at 3:24, but it was all Bruins the rest of the way. Lily Gess netted one to start the spree and Smith finished with two over the final 1:13. Her second was another penalty that gave UCLA its first and only lead of the contest.

The Trojans scored three times to begin the final frame, the last one coming on a power play. Bia Mantellato cut the Bruin deficit in half once more with 3:00 remaining, but UCLA was unable to capitalize again.

No. 2 seed UCLA vs. No. 3 seed USC

SCOREBOARD	1	2	3	4	FINAL
No. 3 seed USC	4	3	1	3	11
No. 2 seed UCLA	3	2	4	1	10

6x5: USC – 4/8, UCLA – 3/12
Penalties: USC – 0/0, UCLA – 2/2

USC Goals: Emily Ausmus 3, Maggie Johnson 3, Ava Knepper 1, Morgan Netherton 1, Sinia Plotz 1, Ava Stryker 1, Alma Yaacobi 1
USC Saves: Anna Reed 9

UCLA Goals: Taylor Smith 4, Elektra Urbatsch 2, Lily Gess 1, Bia Mantellato 1, Carly McMurray 1, Anna Pearson 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 11