LOS ANGELES (AP) McQuin Baron made 19 saves and Southern California beat California 8-6 on Saturday night to advance to the NCAA water polo championship game.
No. 3 USC (22-6) will face defending champion and No. 1 UCLA, a 17-4 winner over UC San Diego in the first semifinal. Last year, UCLA beart USC 9-8 in the title game.
Blake Edwards led USC with three goals. Nick Bell and Matteo Morelli each added two.
Luca Cupido scored twice for No. 2 Cal (23-7).
Baron, a member of the U.S. national team, matched his career high with the 19 saves. He blocked two penalty shots.
Cal scored first when Johnny Hooper stole the ball and then fired the ball in from in front of the goal on a power play. USC brothers Lachlan and Blake Edwards scored the next two goals and the Trojans led the rest of the way.
