LOS ANGELES – No. 2 Stanford held No. 1 USC scoreless in overtime and Makenzie Fischer notched a hat trick to lead the Cardinal in a 9-8 victory, Saturday, at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
Stanford (15-1, 3-0 MPSF) snapped USC's 37-game winning streak and ended a four-game skid to the Trojans (20-1, 2-1 MPSF). It also marked USC's first loss at home since 2017 when the Cardinal ended the Trojans' NCAA-record 52-match winning streak with a 12-8 win.
Trailing 7-4 going into the fourth quarter, the Cardinal scored four in the final frame and held an 8-7 lead. With 38 seconds remaining USC's Denise Mammolito scored the equalizer to send it to overtime.
Makenzie Fischer went cross-cage for her third goal midway through the first overtime, which proved to be the game-winner. It was her 13th multi-score effort in 15 games played this season. The Trojans were without Paige Hauschild who fouled out in regulation.
The game-winner from @makenziefishy ??.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/m4Rw5ykEF3
— Stanford Women's Water Polo (@Stanfordh2opolo) March 30, 2019
Stanford out shot USC, 33-31, while both teams scored five goals on power plays. USC finished with 12 exclusions to 10 by the Cardinal.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Emalia Eichelberger finished with 11 saves for Stanford, including a penalty shot by Mammolito in the third quarter.
DENIAL ???????
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 30, 2019
Emalia Eichelberger bats down the penalty shot on a stellar @Stanfordh2opolo defensive sequence. pic.twitter.com/ybt37RPPSO
Freshman Ryann Neushul put Stanford on the board at 5:57 in the second quarter. The rookie scored again with 2:04 remaining in regulation to knot it up at 7-7.
Senior Madison Berggren and sophomore Sarah Klass scored back-to-back goals in less than a minute early in the fourth quarter to spark the Cardinal comeback.
The win avenged Stanford's only loss on the year, a 10-8 USC victory in the championship of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Feb. 24.
USC was led by Kelsey McIntosh's hat trick, while goalkeeper Amanda Longan had 15 saves for the Trojans.
Up next, Stanford hosts No. 3 UCLA on Saturday, April 6 at the Avery Aquatic Center on Pac-12 Networks.
No. 2 Stanford at No. 1 USC
March 30, 2019 • Los Angeles, Calif.
STAN 0 – 2 – 2 – 4 – 1 – 0 = 9
USC 2 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 0 – 0 = 8
Stanford Goals: Makenzie Fischer 3, Sarah Klass 2, Ryann Neushul 2, Madison Berggren 1, Mackenzie Wiley 1
Stanford Saves: Emalia Eichelberger 11
USC Goals: Kelsey McIntosh 3, Tilly Kearns 2, Alejandra Aznar 1, Courtney Fahey 1, Denise Mammolito 1
USC Saves: Amanda Longan 15