Women's Water Polo
    USC Bound For MPSF Title Match
    Top-seeded Trojans take down Cal 7-4 with hat tricks from Kiss and Stein, face Stanford in the final.
    Alexandra Kiss scored three goals in the third period to build a solid lead for USC.
    Alexandra Kiss scored three goals in the third period to build a solid lead for USC.

    April 25, 2009

    HONOLULU, HAWAII - The top-seeded USC women's water polo team secured a shot at the MPSF Championship with a 7-4 win over fourth-seeded Cal in the MPSF semifinals today in Hawai'i. The Women of Troy will line up against No. 2 Stanford in the title match tomorrow at 5 p.m. HT, with the MPSF crown and an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Tournament up for grabs in the game. The semifinal win pulls USC's overall record to 23-1.

    Michelle Stein opened up the scoring for USC on her way to a three-goal outing in the game. Her goal would be the only one scored in the first period, and USC upped its advantage with two more goals in the second - another from Stein and one from Kami Craig. Cal would get its first goal through in the last minute of the first half, leaving USC ahead 3-1 at halftime.

    In the third, USC powered farther ahead with three straight scores to go up 6-1. Stein's third started off the surge, and Alexandra Kiss followed with back-to-back goals. Cal put one in on its next possession, but USC pushed ahead 7-2 on Kiss' third strike of the period.

    The Bears were able to get their first pair of goals to open the fourth period, and that would round out the scoring in the frame, as USC emerged with the 7-4 decision and a trip to tomorrow's championship game.

    #1 USC 7, #4 California 4
    USC 1 - 2 - 4 - 0 = 7
    CAL 0 - 1 - 1 - 2 = 4

    SCORING:
    USC - Alexandra Kiss 3, Michelle Stein 3, Kami Craig.
    CAL - Emily Csikos 2, Camille Hewko, Remy Champion

    SAVES: Tumua Anae (USC) 13, Stephanie Peckham (CAL) 12.