HONOLULU — Alba Bonamusa Boix read it on her friend’s face.
As the seconds ticked down from 15 at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex on Saturday night, the Hawaii water polo senior from Spain spied her countrywoman, Alejandra Aznar of USC, attempting to navigate to the hole set position in front of the UH goal.
UH switched from its game-long zone defense to a pressing, man-to-man scheme for the play. Bonamusa Boix darted in and stole the ball on an entry pass attempt to Aznar. She swam away with the ball for the last few seconds and the No. 4 Rainbow Wahine preserved a 9-8 win over the fifth-ranked traditional power in front of a few hundred screaming fans.
“To be honest, (Aznar) is one of my best friends,” Bonamusa Boix said. “I could see that she had that look on her face. So, it was pretty obvious that the ball was going to go (to) her.”
The two hadn’t had a chance to talk right after the match but the UH senior smiled and said she was certain her fellow Barcelona native “has so many things to say.”
[Note: See below for more photos of the game.]
It was UH’s second win over USC this season after entering the year with three all-time wins in the series in 51 tries. The first of 2024 was a 10-6 defeat of the then-No. 1 Trojans on Feb. 4 in the Triton Invitational.
The Trojans, seven-time national champions, make an annual trip to the Islands to train over spring break and typically get in a game with the Wahine in the process.
That tradition has never worked out for UH like it did Saturday; it marked the first time in 21 attempts that UH (13-3) beat USC (13-4) at home.
UH reveled in its first home game in more than a month after three separate trips to the mainland over that span.
“It’s incredibly special. The support, the crowd support was amazing,” coach Maureen Cole said. “That was the most packed I’ve seen it in a really, really long time – if ever. That’s a great team. There’ve been two teams that have won championships in the last 14 years. That’s one of them (along with Stanford). So, to do that in our home pool, it’s a dream come true.”
Bonamusa Boix was happy that Cole has gotten to experience moments like Saturday and two wins over No. 1s in her final season; Cole will pass over leadership to her assistant, James Robinson, this summer.
“Obviously anytime you win a MPSF (Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) game, it’s an awesome feeling,” Bonamusa Boix said. “Years ago, we were nowhere close to competing against this team, and now we are. We’re showing not only we’re here to compete, but we’re here to win the game.”
The Wahine struck 41 seconds into the match on a goal by Lot Stertefeld and did not allow the Trojans to establish a run of more than two goals at any point.
Jordan Wedderburn scored a hat trick, Bernadette Doyle had five assists and Bonamusa Boix was a menace in the field with three blocks and three steals.
USC nearly rallied back from down three goals with 4:30 to play as Ava Stryker and Rachel Gazzaniga found the net for the Trojans and UH played more conservatively.
USC coach Casey Moon took ownership of his team’s miscommunication on the final play and credited UH for the “incredible” game atmosphere for a women's water polo match. He acknowledged his program is younger than usual this year.
Though he didn't say it, it's also an Olympic year when some elite players aren't competing for U.S. universities, injecting a wild-card element to competition.
Moon said UH could be a postseason factor with its host of veteran players. UH showed off some combination goals like a back-post alley-oop dunk by Bia Mantellato Dias in the third quarter.
“Absolutely. I think for them, they have veteran experience that have been together now for three, four years,” Moon said. “I think this ability to play together, learning how to play with each other is massive. They have a solid group.”
The Wahine have six Big West matches remaining, including three straight at home with Cal State Fullerton and CSUN in town next Friday and Saturday.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.