Card Represented On Cutino Watch List

STANFORD, Calif. – Christine Carpenter, Juliette Dhalluin and Jenna Flynn have been named to the Peter J. Cutino Award Watch List, as Stanford is once again 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 California, UCLA and 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.

While it's possible the 2026 Cutino Award winner will come from these 20 honorees, the midseason list is completely independent from the nomination and voting process of the Cutino Award.

Eight Cardinal players have combined to win the award 11 times: Ryann Neushul (2025), Aria Fischer (2023), Makenzie Fischer (2019, 2022), Kiley Neushul (2012, 2015), Annika Dries (2011, 2014), Melissa Seidemann (2013), Jackie Frank (2003) and Brenda Villa (2002).

Carpenter, Dhalluin and Flynn have guided No. 2 Stanford (9-1, 3-1 MPSF) to an impressive start, pairing a balanced offense with a suffocating defense. In addition to defeating No. 3 UCLA twice already, Stanford has scored at least 15 goals in six of its 10 games while boasting at least 10 different goal scorers in four contests.

Stanford features the nation’s top goalkeeper in Carpenter, who was named an ACWPC First-Team All-American during the Cardinal’s 2025 NCAA title run in her first full season. Carpenter, who has made 60 saves through nine games, has anchored a stingy defense that has allowed seven goals or fewer on six occasions. Carpenter was also named MVP of both the MPSF All-Tournament Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team in 2025.

Dhalluin has been one of the Cardinal’s most consistent performers since arriving on The Farm in 2025 after transferring from Arizona State. Scoring at least twice in every game this season, Dhalluin ranks second on the team in goals (30) but leads Stanford in assists (22) to go along with 50 shot attempts. A two-time ACWPC All-American, Dhalluin produced a hat trick in last year’s NCAA championship game to secure the win over USC.

Flynn leads the Cardinal with 35 goals while also contributing 17 assists, 64 shot attempts and nine multi-goal games. A two-time ACWPC All-American and member of two NCAA championship teams (2023, 2025), Flynn has produced eight hat tricks this season while collecting pair of MPSF/Delfina Player of the Week awards. Flynn was also named to last year’s Peter J. Cutino midseason watch list.

Stanford returns to action on Saturday, March 28, visiting Indiana at 10 a.m. PT.