Hawaii-USC water polo worth price of admission
The admission was free, as is policy for Hawaii water polo matches at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex.
But the match Saturday between the Rainbow Wahine and No. 1 USC was notable for a couple of reasons. Reasons enough that you probably could’ve gotten people to pay to get in, had you been so inclined.
Of course, that’s a tongue-in-cheek statement, given what happened earlier this week.
But, in all seriousness, there were some genuinely compelling things in play here.
First, how would the defending national champion Trojans handle their first match since the legendary Jovan Vavic was fired amid the FBI “Operation Varsity Blues” sweep? Vavic was an institution there, with something in the order of 15 national championships to his name. A longtime assistant coach, Casey Moon, was elevated to interim head coach after Vavic and a USC senior administrator were terminated on Tuesday for their alleged roles in the criminal ring — taking money to shepherd unqualified students through university’s admissions process.
Second, how would fifth-ranked Hawaii fare against the undefeated (19-0) No. 1 team in the country? The Rainbow Wahine (12-3 entering Saturday) had played some good teams to this point, for sure, including some on the road like UCLA and Cal, and came close in those matches. But this was an uncommon opportunity to get a No. 1 in your own pool.
Well, UH was defeated 12-8, a respectable score, but a loss nonetheless. Coach Maureen Cole was left lamenting the lopsided first half that put the match basically out of reach by the time the Wahine made a real push in the fourth quarter.
Here’s a pretty cool sequence.
A couple of crossbar hits but persistence pays off for #HawaiiWWP this time against USC.
UH within 11-5 in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/jib7eAZ0bD
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 17, 2019
“At the end of the third and the fourth quarter, we developed some confidence,” Cole said. “We were playing the way we should’ve been playing in the first half. But they just absolutely dominated us. It was pretty disappointing. We didn’t come out and stick to our game plan. We were turning the ball over.
Cole praised USC’s goalkeeper Amanda Longan, the reigning national player of the year. For much of the match, Longan had a bead on UH’s shots (saving nine).
“Their goalie made some huge saves, and that really had them separate from us. She’s awesome,” Cole said. “She’s the best goalie in the country. She’ll be an Olympic goalie next year. … She’s a force. She’s quick. She’s like a seventh player in the field, too. She’ll come out, and then she’s really quick to come back and cover space and get back in the cage.”
UH’s senior All-American Irene Gonzalez was a factor in narrowing the final margin. She scored twice in the fourth, including once on a sweet counterattack and a lob shot over Longan to give her a hat trick.
If you listen near the end of this interview, Gonzalez was asked about what they expected of USC’s focus given the surreal week. Well, she said, a sharp focus was expected, given the Trojans’ pedigree, and it bore out.
Here’s #HawaiiWWP All-American Irene Gonzalez on what it was like to face No. 1 USC and whether she thought the Trojans were at all distracted after their head coach was fired this week. pic.twitter.com/oRSARgV6iy
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 17, 2019
USC’s new head coach, Moon, was available for an interview afterward, although USC players were not.
“Our energy was incredible. From the beginning, everybody was super fired up to play,” Moon said. “I think our team has been very good about that. We had a lot of veterans come back to play, regardless of circumstances here. Their goal is to win a game and have fun doing it. So, it’s been fun.”
He commended his players for being “professionals” and handling business in the face of present circumstances.
As for how this week has affected him, a member of the USC staff for the last 12-plus years, he said, “It’s kind of been a whirlwind, to be honest. But you know, I tell everybody, I have the easiest job in the world. Our girls can coach themselves. I have a fun job because I get to call the plays. Luckily for me, to get handed a team like this with a lot of veterans returning as well as being national champions, it definitely helps our situation. The transition is really smooth.”
The Wahine’s Elyse Lemay-Lavoie actually led off the game with a goal. The lead was brief, though, as USC scored three straight. It was 3-2 after a quarter, but then four unanswered in the second made it 7-2 at half.
Legendary coach or no legendary coach, USC is gaining admission to the #HawaiiWWP goal.
Defending national champs lead 6-2 in the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/Ub5Jvkmxat
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 17, 2019
All-American Maud Megens led USC with five goals.
Cole was asked what could be learned from the night in the event UH faces top-tier teams like USC in, say, the NCAA tournament.
“I think they’re the most physical team we’ve faced so far, and they pressed really hard,” Cole said. “In the first half, we backed away from moving as much as we needed to. I think they learned, the more you move, the more we can create on offense. It forces them to play defense a little more and gets them out of their counter. If we can do that in the first half, I think we’ll be able to compete with them and any team in the country.”
UH’s Samantha Malouff makes the score a little more respectable late in the third.
11-4 Trojans leading #HawaiiWWP pic.twitter.com/LsdtmxyDU3
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 17, 2019
Thanks for the extended coverage, Brian. This team deserves it.
Real Trojans keep Fighting On !!