Top-6 Tests This WeekendTop-6 Tests This Weekend
Women's Water Polo

Top-6 Tests This Weekend

No. 1 Stanford visits No. 2 USC, No. 6 Long Beach State

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STANFORD, Calif. - No. 1 Stanford (15-0, 2-0 MPSF) travels to SoCal this weekend for matchups against No. 2 USC on Saturday (1 p.m.) before facing No. 6 Long Beach State on Sunday (1 p.m.).

Stanford is off to its fourth 15-0 start in school history and first since a 16-0 debut in 2023. The Cardinal opened the season 24-0 in 2011 and 27-0 during the 2001 campaign.

• During last weekend's homestand, Stanford cruised past No. 11 Harvard 16-5 before routing No. 18 San Jose State 20-4. Against Harvard, Ryann Neushul scored four goals, including the 200th of her career to join only seven other players in school history to accomplish the feat. Against San Jose State, Juliette Dhalluin's season-high four goals led the way as the Cardinal received goals from 11 different players.

The Cardinal has overpowere d its opponents through 15 games, pairing a balanced offense with a suffocating defense. Stanford has scored at least 10 goals in every game this season and 250 overall, good for an average of 16.7 per game. Perhaps the best indication of Stanford's depth is that 10 players have scored at least 10 goals this season.

The Cardinal has also looked sharp on the defensive side of the pool, with its 92 goals allowed representing the lowest total of any school in the nation. Stanford has allowed double-digit goals only twice in 2025.

Stanford defeated No. 2 USC 10-6 in the championship game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Feb. 23, capturing its third tournament title in the last four seasons and seventh overall. In routs of Cal State Fullerton (19-6) and UC San Diego (17-3), Stanford maintained its streak of producing 10 different goal scorers in a game, a feat which has occurred nine times this season. The Cardinal then cruised past defending NCAA champion UCLA 14-4 in the semifinals, representing its largest margin of victory against the Bruins in school history.

Christine Carpenter was named MPSF Player of the Week for Feb. 25, earning the first weekly honor of her career. In three games at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, Carpenter totaled 24 saves, including a career-high 13 stops against USC in the final. The Trojans were limited to six goals on 32 shots and a 2-for-11 mark on the power play. Carpenter has made a team-leading 79 saves this season while filling a key spot vacated by two-time All-American goalkeeper Maya Avital, who closed out her career ranking second in program history with 613 saves.

In 2024, Stanford was without five players who were taking a leave of absence and redshirt year to train and compete with their respective national teams in preparation for the Paris Summer Olympics. All-Americans Jenna Flynn, Ryann Neushul and Jewel Roemer joined Ella Woodhead in training for Team USA while Serena Browne competed for Canada. Each player has returned in 2025, significantly enhancing Stanford’s trademark depth. Flynn (37 goals), Neushul (35) and Roemer (29) are Stanford's top three scorers while Woodhead and Browne have combined for 29 goals. Neushul was named MPSF Player of the Week for Jan. 21 after a career-high six-goal performance on Jan. 18.

Stanford was also busy last summer adding Juliette Dhalluin, a 2023 third-team All-American transfer from Arizona State. Dhalluin, who has totaled 22 goals and 23 assists, compiled Sun Devil rookie records of 70 goals, 38 assists and 48 steals in 2023. She also has extensive international experience, most recently competing with France at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

In 28 seasons, head coach John Tanner has compiled a 656-96 overall record while directing the Cardinal to 23 all-time NCAA appearances, nine NCAA titles (2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2002) and nine national runner-ups. An eight-time ACWPC Coach of the Year and six-time MPSF Coach of the Year, Tanner picked up his 600th career victory in Stanford's 25-8 win over Fresno State on Jan. 28, 2003.