USC and UCLA post wins to set up semifinal match

The USC women’s water polo team opened the 2007 NCAA championships with a balanced attack, getting 11 different players in on the scoring, and the Trojans defeated Hartwick (N.Y.), 20-5, at the USA Water Polo National Training Center in Los Alamitos.

With the victory, third-seeded USC (21-5) moves a step closer to a national championship, entering a semifinal match against second-seeded UCLA (26-2) tonight at 6:45.

Leading the scoring for USC, which had an 11-1 halftime lead, were three players who registered hat tricks.

For junior Alison Riddle and freshman Forel Davies, it was the first three-goal performance of their careers. Junior Veronika Bartunkova completed hers moments before Davies did, giving the Trojans a 20-5 lead.

UCLA advanced by defeating seventh-seeded Pomona-Pitzer, 22-0.

Eleven Bruins scored, with nine scoring at least twice. Tanya Gandy and Kelly Rulon led the Bruins with three goals each.

Rulon’s second goal was the 235th of her career, which tied the team record. Bruins assistant coach Coralie Simmons set the record in 2001.

UCLA, which had 17 steals, limited Pomona-Pitzer to 16 shots. The Sagehens could not capitalize on any of their five six-on-five opportunities.