University Southern California Trojans
Men's Water Polo Aims for MPSF Tournament Title
June 21, 1999 | Men's Water Polo
November 23, 1998
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The USC men's water polo team (21-2 overall, 8-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for first place) seeks its third straight MPSF Tournament title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships this weekend. The conference championships will be held at Newport Harbor High School on Friday through Sunday (Nov. 27-29). After winning the regular-season MPSF title, the Trojans received the tournament's top seed. They face eighth-seeded Long Beach State (10-14, 1-7) at 9 a.m. on Nov 27.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
at Newport Harbor High School
Friday, Nov. 27
#1 USC vs. #8 Long Beach State, 9 a.m.
#4 Stanford vs. #5 California, 10:30 a.m.
#2 UC Irvine vs. #7 Pacific, 1 p.m.
#3 UCLA vs. #6 Pepperdine, 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 28
USC-LBSU loser vs. Stanford-California loser,
9 a.m. UCI-Pacific loser vs. UCLA-Pepperdine loser
10:30 a.m. USC-LBSU winner vs. Stanford-California winner
1 p.m. UCI-Pacific winner vs. UCLA-Pepperdine winner
Sunday, Nov. 29
7th-place game, 9 a.m.
5th-place game, 10:30 a.m.
3rd-place game, 1 p.m.
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.
RANKINGS - USC was ranked No. 1 in the Nov. 17 coaches poll.
NOTES & STATS - The offense is averaging 11.3 points a game, while the defense is giving up 6.3 points per game. That is USC's best defensive mark since the 1980 season, when the Trojans gave up 5.5 points a game ... USC scored a school-record 28 points against UC Davis (Oct. 17), though stats only go back to the 1979 season ... On the flip side, the three goals scored against UCLA (Nov. 21) were the fewest since a 7-2 loss to California in 1991 ... USC had four recipients of the MPSF Player of the Week award, more than any other school ... USC has made 24 two-pointers and is approaching the school record of 28, set in 1995.
VS. THE MPSF TEAMS - Including a perfect 8-0 record in MPSF play, USC is 17-2 overall (.895) against the conference teams this season. The breakdown is as follows: 4-0 vs. California; 3-0 vs. Stanford; 2-0 vs. Long Beach State, Pepperdine and UC Irvine; 1-0 vs. UC Santa Barbara; 2-1 vs. UCLA; and 1-1 vs. Pacific.
LAST WEEK - USC wrapped up a perfect conference season with a 14-8 victory against Long Beach State at Belmont Plaza on Tuesday night (Nov. 17). Marko Pintaric scored three points and Stever O'Rourke and James Castle each had two goals as the Trojans jumped out to a big early lead. In the regular-season finale, USC's offense was missing in a 6-3 loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center on Saturday (Nov. 21). Richard McEvoy did his part to keep USC in the game, making 10 saves.
JOHN WILLIAMS & JOVAN VAVIC - Co-head coaches John Williams and Jovan Vavic have Troy competing for a national championship year in and year out (USC has placed second in four of the last five years). Williams, a former USC All-American, is in his 26th year as head coach of the Trojans and has a record of 445-252-7 (.637). Vavic was promoted to co-head coach prior to 1995, and since then, USC is 85-17 (.833).
MARKO PINTARIC - Senior driver Marko Pintaric is again playing at the level that saw him lead USC in scoring in 1997 and earn All-American second team honors. He is currently tied for first on the team with 38 goals and 48 points (tied for third in the MPSF). His 10 two-pointers is one shy of the school record set by Mateo Juric in 1995. He had a 19-game scoring streak to open the season. He has had a season-high four points twice: at Stanford (Nov. 7) and against Pacific (Oct. 3). A native of Croatia, Pintaric made the All-Southern California Tournament first team for the second straight year. He was named MPSF Player of the Week on Oct. 5 after scoring a total of six points against Pacific and UC Irvine.
RICHARD McEVOY - After earning 1997 All-American third team honors in his first year as a starter, junior goalie Richard McEvoy (Pembroke Pines, FL/Cooper City HS) could be the nation's best at his position this year. He has 170 saves, an average of 8.5 a game (fourth in the MPSF), and is allowing 6.4 points a game (fourth in the MPSF). McEvoy has reached double-digit saves in eight games, including four of the last five. He had a season-high 12 saves at California (Nov. 8). McEvoy made the All-Southern California Tournament first team and was named MPSF Player of the Week on after getting 11 saves against UCLA (Nov. 15).
GEORGE CSASZAR - In what had to have been the greatest debut in USC history, sophomore driver George Csaszar scored seven goals and eight points against Long Beach State in the 1998 season opener (Sept. 15). A native of Hungary who has an excellent shot, Csaszar is tied for the Trojans' lead with 48 points (tied for third in the MPSF) on 42 goals and six two-pointers. He has fared well against Pepperdine, scoring six goals in Malibu (Sept. 26) and five goals in a home match (Oct. 18). After scoring 15 points in the first six games, he was named MPSF Player of the Week on Sept. 20. He also made the All-Southern California Tournament second team.
JAMES CASTLE - A former starter on the U.S. Junior National Team and a 1997 All-American third teamer, junior 2-meter man James Castle (Hacienda Heights/Wilson HS) is again one of USC's standouts in 1998. He has 31 goals thus far. He scored five goals against UC Davis (Oct. 17). Castle made the All-Southern California Tournament second team.
PETER JANOV - An ironman at the 2-meter position, junior Peter Janov has scored 32 points in 1998. A newcomer who comes from Slovakia via Golden West College, he has been equally impressive on defense. He had a recent five-game stretch where he scored 14 points. He had a season-high four goals against UCLA (Nov. 15). He made the All-Southern California Tournament second team and was named MPSF Co-Player of the Week after totalling five points against the Bay Area schools (Nov. 7-8).
IVAN BABIC - Another exciting newcomer, freshman 2-meter man Ivan Babic hails from Yugoslavia. He has scored 31 points in 1998. He scored five goals against UC Santa Barbara (Oct. 31) and had five points against UC Davis (Oct. 17). Babic also had a seven-game scoring streak where he accumulated 14 points.
ALLEN BASSO - Junior driver Allen Basso (Lake Forest/El Toro HS) has come on strong in the second half of the season and has 22 points. He had six goals against UC Davis (Oct. 17). He is one of just a few Trojans looking to play in their third straight NCAA Tournament.
STEVER O'ROURKE - Sophomore Stever O'Rourke (Huntington Beach/Marina HS) has recovered from a broken arm to be one of Troy's contributors in 1998. After redshirting the 1996 season, he was hit by a car just prior to the start of the 1997 season and was lost for the year. He has 13 goals in 1998, including a four-goal effort against UC Davis (Oct. 17).
OTHERS - Beyond the previously mentioned players, USC has excellent depth, with eight other players who have scored at least three goals in 1998.
MISSING - USC's success has come despite the absence of some players who were expected to serve in key roles. Sophomore 2-meter man Sean Stuart has been out for the entire season with a shoulder injury, sophomore driver J.J. Arden is studying in Italy this semester and sophomore 2-meter man Bjorn Nordstrom is in the second year of a two-year Mormon mission.
1997 MPSF TOURNAMENT - Despite entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed, the Trojans won three straight one-goal games to win the championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. USC defeated fifth-seed UCLA (8-7), top-seed Pepperdine (10-9) and third-seed Stanford (5-4).
