Southern California outlasted a fiesty Loyola Marymount squad to capture its first National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship and complete an unbeaten season May 9 at Stanford.

In the highest-scoring game in the brief four-year history of the championship, the Trojans toppled the Lions, 10-8, to win their first title in their first tournament appearance. Loyola Marymount was making its first appearance in the title game.

With the victory, Southern California culminated a perfect 29-0 season.

Southern California freshman Brittany Hayes contributed three goals and four assists in the winning effort. Seven other Trojans also registered scores in the game. Loyola Marymount teammates Cara Colton and Stacia Peterson combined for seven goals for the Lions.

Southern California opened the scoring when Lauren Wenger found the back of the net off an assist from Hayes on a six-on-five situation just 1:43 into the contest. Hayes added a second goal at the 3:03 mark, but the Lions sliced the deficit in half on the first of four goals by Colton. The Trojans re-established a two-goal lead just before the close of the first period on an Erin Wilson skip shot.

Southern California added to its lead just 22 seconds into the second period when Liz Simms rifled a shot past Lions goalie Katie Murray. Loyola Marymount countered with tallies by Devon Wright and Peterson to close the gap to 4-3 heading into the half.

Eight of the 11 goals scored in the second half came off extra-man situations. In the third frame, Southern California's lead swelled to 8-5 on the strength of two goals by Hayes and one each by Eszter Gyori and 2004 Mountian Pacific Sports Federation player of the year Moriah Van Norman.

With less than six minutes left in the game, Erika Figge pushed the Trojans ahead by 9-6. The Lions managed to pull to within one at 9-8 on back-to-back goals by Colton. Southern California junior Anna Pardo added an insurance goal at the 3:52 mark to seal the victory.

Southern California head coach Jovan Vavic said winning the championship is a big relief.

"Once you win a national title, it's like getting a huge monkey off your back," he said. "I did not really look at the record (29-0) because for us, it was more important to win the title."

The Lions, who improved on last year's third-place finish, stunned Stanford, 5-4, in semifinal play to advance to the final. Loyola Marymount finished 25-6 on the season. The Trojans defeated Hartwick, 12-4, in their semifinal contest to earn a berth in the title game.

In the third-place match, Stanford downed Hartwick, 12-2. The Cardinal, the 2003 championship runner-up, ended the season at 20-5. Hartwick closed the year at 33-9.

Southern California's Hayes, who piled up five goals in two games, was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Joining Hayes on the all-tournament squad were teammates Simms, Van Norman and goalkeeper Kelly Graf, as well as Loyola Marymount's Wright and Teresa Guidi.

Second-team all-tournament members were Wenger and Erika Figge of Southern California, Loyola Marymount netminder Murray, Kate Chambers from Hartwick, and Stanford's Lauren Faust, Hannah Luber and Wendy Watkins.

Semifinals

Loyola Marymount scoring: Stacia Peterson 2, Teresa Guidi, Sarah Hamilton, Devon Wright.

Stanford scoring: Lauren Faust, Katie Hansen, Christina Hewko, Scotti Shafer

Saves: Stanford -- Meridith McColl 3, Loyola Marymount -- Katie Murray 12.

Southern California scoring: Erika Figge 2, Brittany Hayes 2, Anna Pardo 2, Liz Simms 2, Moriah Van Norman 2, Lauren Wenger, Erin Wilson.

Hartwick scoring: Sheri Johnson 2, Collen Santos, Carly Strub.

Saves: Southern California -- Kelly Graff 7, Sara Mix 2; Hartwick -- Amy Brunton 2.

Stanford scoring: Lauren Faust 3, Hannah Luber 3, Nancy El-Sakkary 2, Alison Gregorka, Laurel Champion, Scotti Shafer, Wendy Watkins

Hartwick scoring: Sheri Johnson, Carly Strub.

Saves: Stanford -- Meridith McColl 5, Amanda Matuk 4; Hartwick -- Amy Brunton 1.

Championship game

Southern California scoring: Brittany Hayes 3, Erin Wilson, Lauren Wenger, Erika Figge, Moriah Van Norman, Liz Simms, Anna Pardo, Eszter Gyori.

Loyola Marymount scoring: Cara Colton 4, Stacia Peterson 3, Devon Wright.

Saves: Southern California -- Kelly Graff 5; Loyola Marymount -- Katie Murray 4.