INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Harvard women's water polo fell to No. 4 USC by a score of 18-7 on Friday evening at the IU Natatorium in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
In the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance, Harvard battled with the Trojans in a nationally ranked rematch but was unable to come out on top, closing out the most successful season in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
USC opened the scoring to take a 1-0 lead before
Ruby Hodge netted Harvard's first-ever NCAA Tournament goal from distance. The junior took it herself and beat the Trojans' goalkeeper short side to tie the game early in the first quarter. USC would respond with three straight goals to lead 4-1.
Hodge added her second goal late in the quarter, picking the corner to cut the lead to two, but USC answered once again in the final seconds to make it 5-2 after eight minutes.
The Trojans extended their lead with five goals in the second quarter.
Emma Gilbert scored the lone Crimson goal, a highlight-reel no-look shot after spinning around a defender, making it 10-3 at the half.
Hodge completed her hat trick in the third quarter, and
Maya O'Dea added two goals to help Harvard close the gap to 13-6 heading into the final frame.
USC outscored Harvard 5-1 in the fourth quarter, with
Erin Kim scoring the Crimson's final goal of the game.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
