USC Wins Title With 29-0 Record

Upset-minded Loyola Marymount was at it again Sunday in its first-ever NCAA women’s water polo national title match. In the end, the Lions couldn’t keep USC from achieving its own piece of history.

The Trojans became the first team to go through a season undefeated, beating Loyola Marymount, 10-8, to win their first national title in five years and first NCAA championship since it became a sponsored sport three years ago.

Loyola Marymount (25-6) upset Stanford in the semifinals and pushed USC throughout. The Lions cut the lead to one goal on four occasions but USC (29-0) answered each time.

Cara Colton, who had four goals, scored on consecutive possessions to trim the Trojan lead to 9-8 in the fourth period. But Anna Pardo scored the clincher with 3 minutes 8 seconds left and USC withstood heavy pressure from the Lions.

Freshman Brittany Hayes, who was selected the tournament’s most valuable player, had three goals and assisted on four for the Trojans, and national player-of-the-year finalist Moriah Van Norman was among seven USC players who scored one goal each. Stacia Peterson scored three times for the Lions.

Stanford defeated Hartwick College, 12-2, in the third-place match.

*

Eric Kurt Suzuki and Clark Hardman combined to drive in seven runs and Cal State Fullerton stayed hot and remained in first place in the Big West Conference with an 11-4 victory over UC Riverside at Goodwin Field.

Suzuki, whose four runs batted in gave him 63 this season, hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to blow the game open. Hardman hit a two-run triple in the fourth and singled in a run in the sixth in a three-for-three performance.

Fullerton (30-19, 13-2) won the rubber game after Riverside (31-20, 9-6) got home runs from Nick Salotti and Kyle Barratt to end a tie Saturday night and give the Highlanders a 6-4 win. But the Titans have won 15 of their last 18 games behind a core group of starters that played in the College World Series last season.

“We just thought it was only a matter of time before we started clicking on all cylinders,” first baseman P.J. Pilittere said. “It helps to have guys who have been around especially for the younger players who can look to us for leadership by our example.”

Riverside Coach Jack Smitheran said the third-place Highlanders needed to win at least one game in the series to stay in contention for a postseason berth.