LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC San Diego women's water polo standout Abigail Schechter has been selected to the 2026 Cutino Award Watch List.

The announcement was made Thursday by USA Water Polo. 

The Peter J. Cutino Award, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, recognizes the best player in college women's water polo each year.

The top 20 athletes, as submitted by college coaches, have been recognized for their outstanding play.

The watch list was created in 2022 to help promote the college game, awareness of the award, and the excellent play of athletes across the country. While it's possible the 2026 Cutino Award winner will come from the list of athletes below, this list of honorees is completely independent from the nomination and voting process of the Cutino Award as that honor will acknowledge the full impact of the 2026 season.

Schechter, a junior attacker from Bakersfield, Calif., is having a banner year for the Tritons. She leads the team in goals (46), points (52), shots (89), and drawn exclusions (25). Over 19 games played, Schechter has scored at least once in 18 contests and has recorded multiple goals in 14 outings. She scored in 14 consecutive games to kick off the season and twice she has tallied a career high five goals.

UC San Diego, ranked 15th nationally, hosts two games this week. On Friday, March 27, the Tritons entertain Big West rival UC Davis at 6 p.m. The following day, they welcome non-conference opponent Brown to Canyonview Aquatic Center for a 4 p.m. contest. It will also be Senior Day with the three senior Tritons being honored prior to the first sprint. Tickets for both games are available through the Triton Box Office. 

2026 CUTINO AWARD WATCH LIST
Emily Ausmus | University of Southern California | Sophomore | Attacker
Julia Bonaguidi | University of California, Berkeley | Junior | Attacker
Christine Carpenter | Stanford University | Junior | Goalkeeper
Orli Cooper | Harvard University | Sophomore | Goalkeeper
Juliette Dhalluin | Stanford University | R-Junior | Attacker
Despoina Drakotou | University of California, Berkeley | Freshman | Utility
Jenna Flynn | Stanford University | R-Junior | Attacker
Rachel Gazzaniga | University of Southern California | Junior | Center
Alex Love | Brown University | Senior | Attacker
Bia Mantellato | University of California, Los Angeles | Senior | Center
Lucy Miszewski | Long Beach State University | Senior | Utility
Anna Pearson | University of California, Los Angeles | Senior | Utility
Millie Quin | Arizona State University | Senior | Attacker
Abigail Schechter | UC San Diego | Junior | Attacker
Francesca Sena | Wagner College | Senior | Goalkeeper
Taylor Smith | University of California, Los Angeles | Senior | Attacker
Darcy Spark | San Jose State University | Junior | Attacker
Ava Stryker | University of Southern California | Junior | Attacker
Anna Tarantino | Loyola Marymount University | Graduate | Utility
Feline Voordouw | University of California, Berkeley | Junior | Center 

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.