Hoosiers Battle Tough In Kalbus Invite Opener Against No. 5 USC

Friday, February 23

Irvine, Calif.

7:15 P.M. ET

Indiana University

0-0

#5 USC

0-0

Indiana (W)

USC (W)

Hoosiers Battle Tough In Kalbus Invite Opener Against No. 5 USC

2/23/2024 9:02:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. – No. 13 Indiana held a third quarter lead but No. 5 USC pulled from behind in the fourth quarter to take the opener at the Barbara Kalbus Invite on Friday night.

KEY MOMENTS

USC (6-2) got on the board first with just under seven minutes to play as Indiana responded on a 6-on-5 opportunity from senior Kallie White to tie the game at the 6:10 mark. Back-to-back saves by sophomore goalie Jasmine Higgs kept the game at a one goal deficit.
Indiana (12-1) got goals from Sasser and Hathaway in the frame, but the Trojans held a one score advantage, 4-3. Graduate student Zoe Crouch added one more for the Hoosiers to open the second and after a Higgs save and steal off a Trojan turnover, the Hoosiers tied the game up at 5-all on a sophomore Skylar Kidd goal.
Sasser added another goal in the second, but USC would keep its one goal lead, 7-6, at the break. Indiana came out firing in the third as sophomore Sophia Sollie netted her first goal at the 7:20 mark on the clock. It pulled ahead 9-8 as freshman Nancy Baylor-Sefchick scored on an assist from sophomore Louisa Downes with 3:11 to go.
The lead stayed with the Hoosiers going to the fourth as USC would tie the game again on a penalty goal with 6:50 in the final period. Back-to-back powerplays gave the Trojans the lead back with just under five to play that they never relinquished.

NOTES

Three players led the way with two goals each including Crouch, Kidd and Sasser. Kidd and Crouch combined for a team lead three points in the effort.
Sollie led the way with three drawn exclusions and a team-high three steals. Higgs and Kidd also added a pair of steals each.
Senior Sophie Wazzan had a team-high two assists.
Higgs recorded eight saves in goal.

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will face UC Santa Barbara on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET.

For all the latest on Indiana University women's water polo, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaWPolo on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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