UC San Diego (22-13) will face No. 1-seed USC in the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Quarterfinals at noon Friday, the third time the Tritons have reached the quarterfinals in the last six years.
The game will be streamed live on ncaa.com.
The team defeated Wagner College of Staten Island, NY 12-8 in the opening round of the tournament Tuesday at Avery Aquatic Center at Stanford University.
UCSD senior Shelby Stender scored four goals, sophomores Sydney Boland and Grace Pevehouse both scored twice, while senior Chanel Schilling, junior Jessee Ransone and sophomores Ciara Franke and Taylor Onstott scored one goal apiece.
UC San Diego jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter behind two goals from Stender, one by Franke and one by Pevehouse, and led at halftime, 6-4.
A power-play goal by Stender just 20 seconds into the third quarter pushed the lead back to three, and Pevehouse’s five-meter penalty shot goal made it 8-5 entering the fourth. Boland recorded two goals in the final period to help seal the win.
The championship game will be Sunday. Stanford, UCLA and Cal Berkeley are the other top-seeds.
– Staff reports
