No. 3 UCLA Stuns No. 2 USC, 12-9

Sunday, February 1

La Jolla, Calif.

1:30 PM (PT)

UCLA

USC

Behind the stellar offense of Taylor Smith (five goals), and stellar defense of UCLA and Lauren Steele (13 saves), the Bruins took down the Trojans on Sunday.

Photo by: Ross Turteltaub

No. 3 UCLA Stuns No. 2 USC, 12-9

February 01, 2026 | Women's Water Polo

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LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 3 UCLA (6-0, 0-0 MPSF) won the Triton Invitational with an upset of second-ranked USC (8-1), 12-9, on Sunday afternoon at Canyonview Aquatic Center on the campus of UC San Diego. The Bruins, who have already beaten five teams ranked in the top 10, improved to 57-42 in the series history against the Trojans.

A total of six different Bruins scored, paced by a game-high five goals from senior Taylor Smith. Smith added an assist to finish with a game-high six total points. Senior Bia Mantellato and freshman Katherine O'Dea were the other two Bruins to score multiple goals, each scoring twice. Mantellato drew a penalty, an exclusion, and tallied a steal in the win. O'Dea drew an exclusion and recorded two assists for a total of four points in her first matchup against the Trojans.

Junior Lauren Steele got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying 13 saves and one steal while surrendering nine goals. But the defense was much better than the Trojans' score would indicate as three of the Trojans' goals came on penalty plays, two more on 6-on-4 opportunities, and one meaningless goal at the final buzzer on a 7-on-6. Steele and the Bruin defense held USC to just 1-for-16 on shots in the first half and USC scored just three goals at full strength, compared to seven for UCLA.

The Bruins held a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period, and then dominated the second, pitching a 3-0 shutout, to take a 6-1 lead into the break. USC won the third period, 3-2, as UCLA led 8-4 heading into the final stanza. Both teams' offense would not be denied in the fourth, with the Trojans winning the period, 5-4, to provide the 12-9 final.

UP NEXT:
The Bruins will return to Westwood to host UC Irvine in their home opener on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1:00 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center.

No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 2 USC (Triton Invitational - Championship Game - Game 6)

SCOREBOARD	1	2	3	4	FINAL
No. 3 UCLA	3	3	2	4	12
No. 2 USC	1	0	3	5	9

6x5 - UCLA - 4/10 - USC - 2/9
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - USC - 3/3

USC Goals: Ava Stryker 3, Rachel Gazzaniga 2, Emily Ausmus 2, EJ Hourigan 1, Morgan Netherton 1
USC Saves: UCSD did not provide any goalie statistics

UCLA Goals: Taylor Smith 5, Bia Mantellato 2, Katherine O'Dea 2, Carly McMurray 1, Emma Lineback 1, Anna Pearson 1
UCLA Saves: Lauren Steele 13