Prognostications are straightforward. Have a look at some info, decide a facet and clarify why. That’s how I felt so assured that Stanford and USC have been head (and shoulders!) above the remainder of the polo pack early on this ladies’s water polo season.
[CWPA Top 25 Women’s Varsity Water Polo: There’s USC, Stanford… and Everyone Else]
Boy, was I mistaken—and the Cal ladies delivered that message emphatically final weekend. A unbelievable match between the Cardinal and the Golden Bears got here right down to a hustle play by Cal freshman Jessie Rose, who pushed the ball previous Stanford goalie Maya Avital in sudden demise, giving the Bears a dramatic early season win over their largest rival. Cal then adopted up their largest win (to this point) of 2022 by beating MPSF rival Arizona State 11-6, their second win this season (each non-conference) in opposition to the Solar Devils, who final season saved Simmons’ crew out of NCAAs.
It’s now formally a THREE crew race for a nationwide championship—and extra can be revealed because the season unfolds. It must be noticed that over the previous decade Stanford and USC have traded the NCAA title; the final time both of them didn’t end the season on prime was 2009, the final of UCLA’s five-straight titles.
Oh, and Cal has NEVER gained a nationwide championship in ladies’s polo (their males have captured 15 together with the 2021 crown final December); maybe that is the yr of the Bear!
Following is a breakdown of this week’s Collegiate Water Polo Affiliation varsity ladies’s ballot. There are two main tournaments this weekend; the Triton Invitational, hosted in La Jolla, California by UC-San Diego, and the Princeton Invitational in New Jersey.
1) USC (4-0); The match that doesn’t present up of their file is the Trojans’ 13-7 over UCLA in the annual scrimmage between the 2 crosstown rivals. After beating #8 Fresno State on Friday and #11 San Jose State Saturday morning, USC jumped out to a 5-2 benefit over host UCLA earlier than the Bruins evened issues up at five-all. A second half burst proved decisive for SC; this weekend Head Coach Marko Pintaric’s crew travels down the coast to La Jolla for the Triton Invitational; first up on Saturday is #16 UC Santa Barbara.
2) Cal-Berkeley (11-0); Coralie Simmons has led the Cal ladies in Berkeley for six seasons, certainly one of which was misplaced to COVID. In these earlier seasons, there have been massive wins—however at no level did it appear that the Golden Bears had sufficient firepower to knock off both USC or Stanford for an NCAA title. Final weekend proved they do now; Cal’s 10-9 win seems to be to upset the ladies’s polo pecking order that has existed the final decade. Off to their finest begin in the course of the Simmons period behind the spectacular play of goalie Isabel Williams, the Golden Bears relaxation this week earlier than their first MPSF match of the season in opposition to USC in Los Angeles.
3) UCLA (11-0); Like Cal, the Bruins have additionally gotten off to a quick begin. Not like the Golden Bears—who’ve overwhelmed Prime-25 groups in each certainly one of their victories—UCLA has padded its schedule with wins over unranked groups Salem and Ottawa. Tomorrow in La Jolla is one other gimme; Santa Clara as a part of the Triton Invitational. The competitors will get exponentially tougher on Sunday, with the undefeated Golden Bears looming.
Stanford’s John Tanner. Picture Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
4) Stanford (7-1); The polo juggernaut that’s the Cardinal was briefly derailed final Saturday, when Makenzie Fischer and firm have been shocked by a Cal crew hell-bent on an upset. A loss right here and there’s unlikely to ruffle the Cardinal feathers; Head Coach John Tanner is aware of find out how to get one of the best out of his crew, and he has three weeks to determine that out earlier than the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at UC-Irvine. Not solely is Tanner positive to make use of it properly, he’ll totally combine each Fischers—Aria, like Makenzie is a two-time Olympian—again into this system after two years away coaching with the USNT.
5) Michigan (5-3); After an off week, the Wolverines get again within the water on the Triton Invite. They’ll face Pomona-Pitzer and—baring a monumental upset—will get the winner of the Loyola Marymount / UC-Davis match. Additionally taking part on this are #1 USC and #3 UCLA, amongst many others. It’s not crucial for Head Coach Marcelo Leonardi’s crew to get victories in opposition to such lofty opposition, however Michigan will even take part within the Kalbus Invite two weeks later, the place the competitors can be even steeper.
6) Hawai’i (3-1); Although COVID is retreating all through the nation, that doesn’t imply it hasn’t had its affect in polo. Hawai’i misplaced video games early within the season to the pandemic; now they’re taking part in catch-up with their NCAA friends. That begins this weekend in La Jolla, the place they open with CSUN on Saturday, the primary of 4 matches over the weekend.
7) UC-Irvine (4-2); Head Coach Dan Klatt’s crew swept a pair of matches final weekend in opposition to unranked opponents Azusa Pacific and Concordia. Now it’s on to the Triton Invite the place they’ll open on Saturday versus #23 Marist.
8) Fresno State (4-7); Following powerful—however aggressive—losses to #1 USC and #3 UCLA, the Bulldogs acquired to beat up on #11 San Jose State, which they did 15-9. Freshman Fanni Muzsnay (29 targets, 12 exclusions drawn, 11 steals) has been a dynamic offensive participant for FSU. However take a look at Emily Nicholson’s stats: along with 16 targets the redshirt senior has 43 exclusions drawn; that 4 a sport. Head Coach Emily Benson has taught her properly; now the Bulldogs relaxation for per week till they host their very own invite beginning February 19.
9) Arizona State (4-6); After a cut up final weekend at Stanford—wins over #10 UC-Davis and #18 San Diego State and losses to Stanford and Cal—the Solar Devils return to their comfy desert abode for matches Salem and Cal State East Bay. These can be straightforward victories however gained’t wipe away that ASU’s path this yr to NCAAs could also be by way of UCLA and never Cal.
10) UC-Davis (5-3); The Aggies will be a part of the sensible polo crowd in La Jolla; what’s key to contemplate is which prime groups they’ll face at UC-San Diego. They open with Loyola Marymount; a win will get them right into a match in opposition to Michigan, a loss places them within the losers’ bracket in opposition to Pomona-Pitzer. They’re more likely to run into a few of their Large West foes this weekend as CSUN, Hawai’i, Lengthy Seaside State, UC-Santa Barbara and the host Tritons will all be within the water.
The Bulldog’s Emily Nicholson has loved an awesome begin to her senior season in Fresno. Picture Courtesy: Fresno State Athletics
11) San Jose State (6-6); NOT making the journey south are the Spartans. They’ve non-conference foe Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday and can prep for the Fresno State Invitational subsequent weekend. Making waves for Head Coach Beth Harberts have been senior Olga Descalzi (25 targets, 11 assists) and graduate scholar Riley Agerbeek (23 targets, 8 assists).
12) UC-San Diego (4-2); La Jolla is the place to be for polo this weekend—or some other, because it’s reputed to be one of the vital lovely locations in America. What’s can’t be disputed is that 15 groups—together with 12 ranked on this week’s CWPA ballot—will journey to Canyonview Aquatic Middle for the 2022 Triton Invitational. UCSD opens in opposition to rival San Diego State Saturday morning.
13) Lengthy Seaside State (3-3); The 49ers will open their slate of Triton Invite matches in opposition to the #1 Trojans, a troublesome project. In 38 earlier conferences, LBS has by no means overwhelmed USC. Subsequent match—in opposition to #16 UC-Santa Barbara—can be extra to Head Coach Shana Welch’s liking.
14) Wagner (10-2); With 4 wins at Brown final weekend, the Seahawks keep their place because the East’s prime crew. However uneasy lies the pinnacle that wears the crown; the host Bears took it to their friends. Solely three-goal spurt within the third quarter saved Head Coach Ciaran Wolohan’s crew from what would have been an terrible loss. Wagner will keep primary within the East as a result of their subsequent match is 2 weeks away at Marist.
15) Pacific (1-4); You must marvel if the departure of the Kyra Christmas, the Tigers’ phenomenal left who gained back-to-back GCC participant of the yr awards, has had a dampening impact on Pacific’s season. After a lop-sided win final weekend over Cal State East Bay, Head Coach James Graham’s squad won’t compete till the Fresno State Invite subsequent weekend. Not like Santa Claus (if you happen to imagine in these items), Christmas is just not coming again; after making the Canadian roster for the Tokyo Olympics, she’s on to larger polo issues.
16) UC-Santa Barbara (7-2); The Gauchos are driving a three-game successful streak on their technique to La Jolla, the place they’ll open tomorrow in opposition to USC. Not like Lengthy Seaside State, UC-Santa Barbara has overwhelmed the Trojans—14 occasions in 39 conferences. The final win got here on 2004; the excellent news is that Head Coach Serela Kay’s squad will get GCC rival LBS Saturday afternoon in what must be a really aggressive match-up.
LIU’s Paola Dominguez has been a star pertormer for the Sharks. Picture Courtesy: USAWP
17) Lengthy Island College (4-2); The Sharks traveled to Brown final weekend and got here away with two wins, however a little bit of luster from their massive win over Indiana might have been misplaced. They opened an early 6-0 lead in opposition to the host Bears however by the ultimate quarter that benefit was whittled right down to a single aim. Fortunately, Paola Dominguez continued her early-season success, delivering a late aim—certainly one of her ten scores over the weekend—to maintain the house crew at bay. A 14-12 win over St. Francis, PA was a laugher till late, when the Purple Flash narrowed a four-goal result in two. Later as we speak Head Coach Gabby Juarez’s facet takes the NJ Turnpike to Princeton for a contest with the #21 Tigers.
18) Indiana (5-3); Head Coach Taylor Dodson’s squad stays put in Bloomington this week earlier than back-to-back weekends of motion in California; the Fresno State Invite subsequent Saturday and Sunday then the Kalbus Invite in Irvine per week later.
19) San Diego State (0-2); Like Hawai’i, the Aztecs have had scant competitors within the season’s opening weeks. Head Coach Carin Crawford’s facet will leap into the deep finish of competitors with the Triton Invite; first match at 9:50am PST is rival UC-San Diego; when these groups met in La Jolla a yr in the past it was a sudden-death affair—with the Tritons popping out on prime.
20) Loyola Marymount (2-2); The Lions will even look to make up for misplaced time as a consequence of COVID; they and the Aztecs have been purported to have opened the season in Hawai’i–till the coronavirus prompted a postponement. Now they’ll face #10 UC-Davis in La Jolla, with Pomona-Pitzer looming as a possible second opponent.
21) Princeton (4-2); The Tigers host their very own event this weekend, with a complete of 11 groups descending upon DeNunzio pool for 3 days of motion. A notable contest takes place as we speak, as #17 LIU will check their rating in opposition to the house crew. Princeton will play a pair of St. Francis squads (Brooklyn and Loretto) and VMI—however not Ivy and CWPA rival Harvard.
Harvard freshman Erin Kim has gotten off to a powerful begin in Cambridge. Picture Courtesy: Harvard Athletics
22) Harvard (5-1); The Crimson are off to a quick begin, although their solely match in opposition to a prime 20 opponent—Wagner—was an 11-6 defeat the place the Seahawks manhandled the Harvard offense. Among the many 4 opponents Head Coach Ted Minnis’ squad will face within the Princeton Invite are the Sharks of LIU, an awesome check for a younger (11 freshmen and sophomores) squad. One first yr stands out; Erin Kim netted a hat-trick in opposition to Wagner after doing the identical in opposition to Villanova the week earlier than.
23) Marist (2-4); The Purple Foxes picked up a few wins final weekend on the Bruno Basic, however struggled in placing away the pesky Purple Flash of St. Francis, PA. They’re again in California for extra top-flight competitors, opening in opposition to #7 UC-Irvine within the Triton Invite.
24) Bucknell (2-1); A weekend off for the Bison leads into the Princeton Invite and 4 matches, beginning tonight in opposition to Princeton. Head Coach John McBride has an opportunity to get off to a quick begin within the CWPA, with matches in opposition to convention rivals SFU and host Princeton.
25) Brown (5-5); The Bears had a busy final weekend, internet hosting 10 groups / 19 video games. The hosts have been in six of them and have been very aggressive, successful 4. Their two losses have been each by two targets: to #14 Wagner and #17 LIU. This weekend is off for Head Coach Felix Mercado’s crew; subsequent weekend it’s off to Santa Clara for 4 matches.
