STANFORD, Calif. - Aria Fischer, Ryann Neushul and Jewel Roemer have been named to the Peter J. Cutino Award Watch List, as No. 1 Stanford is well represented in the discussion for the nation's top player.
USA Water Polo and The Olympic Club have collaborated with the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) to compile the 20-player list of honorees. Stanford joins USC as the only schools with three selections.
Established in 1999 by The Olympic Club, the Peter J. Cutino Award is given annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division I water polo players as voted on by coaches from across the country. The namesake of the award is a legend in United States water polo history, with eight NCAA titles as head coach at Cal.
Six Cardinal players have combined to win the award nine times: Makenzie Fischer (2019, 2022), Kiley Neushul (2012, 2015), Annika Dries (2011, 2014), Melissa Seidemann (2013), Jackie Frank (2003) and Brenda Villa (2002).
A four-time MPSF Player of the Week this season, Fischer scored a career-high eight goals, including the 200th of her career, in a 19-6 win over Arizona State on March 26. Fischer, who became the seventh player in school history to reach the 200-goal mark, leads the Cardinal in goals (51), points (73) and shots (91) while ranking second in assists (22).
A two-time ACPWC All-American, Neushul has been impressive once again in her final season. The Feb. 28 MPSF Player of the Week, Neushul ranks second in the conference in assists (24) while leading the Cardinal in multi-goal games (14) and ranking second in goals (40), points (64) and shots (69).
A two-time ACPWC All-American, Roemer has been a mainstay for the Cardinal in several categories. She ranks third among Cardinal players in assists (20) and fourth in goals (22), points (42) and shots (40) while producing eight multi-goal games.
Stanford (16-0, 3-0 MPSF) next visits USC on Saturday, April 8, at 1 p.m., representing a rematch of the nation's top two teams, who have also combined to win the last 12 NCAA championships. Back on Feb. 26, Sophie Wallace's goal with 10 seconds left powered Stanford to an 11-10 victory over USC as the Cardinal repeated as Barbara Kalbus Invitational champions and captured its sixth tournament crown overall.
Athletes are listed in alphabetical order
1. Zoe Banks | Harvard | Senior | Goalkeeper
2. Abigail Burton | McKendree | R-Senior | Center
3. Aria Fischer | Stanford | R-Senior | Center
4. Shauna Franke | Brown | Junior | Goalkeeper
5. Paige Hauschild | USC | R-Senior | Attacker
6. Ava Johnson | UCLA | Graduate | Center
7. Tilly Kearns | USC | R-Junior | Center
8. Emma Lineback | UCLA | Sophomore | Attacker
9. Lara Luka | Long Beach State | Junior | Utility
10. Ryann Neushul | Stanford | R-Junior | Attacker
11. Erin Neustrom | Michigan | Graduate | Center
12. Jewel Roemer | Stanford | Junior | Attacker
13. Jovana Sekulic | Princeton | Sophomore | Center
14. Abbey Simshauser | Wagner | Senior | Attacker
15. Lily Turner | California | Senior | Utility
16. Kata Utassy | Michigan | Junior | Attacker
17. Emma van Rossum | Hawai'i | Senior | Defender
18. Bayley Weber | USC | R-Senior | Utility
19. Noëlle Wijnbelt | UC Davis | Senior | Center
20. Isabel Williams | California | Senior | Goalkeeper