University Southern California Trojans
Men's Water Polo Heads to Nor-Cal Tournament
June 21, 1999 | Men's Water Polo
October 13, 1998
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's water polo team (10-0 overall, 3-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), perhaps off to the best start in school history, will try to keep its perfect record intact as it travels to the Northern California Tournament, hosted by Stanford, on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 17-18). The Trojans are the three-time defending Nor-Cal Tournament champion. The top 10 teams in the country will take part in this tournament. USC's first-round opponent is UC Davis on Saturday at 8 a.m. USC's second-round opponent will be either Pacific or UC Santa Barbara later Saturday. Records only go back to 1979, and USC's best start in that time was 8-0-1 in 1983.
RANKINGS - USC is ranked No. 1 in the Oct. 13 American Water Polo Coaches Association Top 20 Poll. UC Davis is not ranked, Pacific is No. 8 and UC Santa Barbara is No. 9.
OPPONENTS - USC has already beaten UC Davis (15-3 on Sept. 18) and Pacific (15-6 on Oct. 3) this season. The Trojans have not faced UC Santa Barbara.
LAST WEEK - Marko Pintaric and Allen Basso each scored three points as USC defeated No. 4 California, 13-8, in an MPSF match on Saturday (Oct. 10) at the McDonald's Swim Stadium. The Trojans put together a strong defensive effort, as they took a 7-0 halftime lead.
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, entered his 26th year as head coach of the Trojans with a record of 424-250-7 (.628). Vavic was promoted to co-head coach prior to 1995, and in the last three seasons, USC went 64-15 (.810).
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 second on the team with 19 goals and 22 points (tied for fifth in the MPSF). 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. He has 64 saves in eight games (8.0 a game, good for second in the MPSF). McEvoy made the All-Southern California Tournament first team.
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. A native of Hungary who has an excellent shot, Csaszar leads the Trojans with 22 goals and 26 points (third in the MPSF). 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 14 goals thus far. He made the All-Southern California Tournament second team.
NEWCOMERS - In addition to Csaszar, USC has been helped by the arrival of junior 2-meter man Peter Janov and freshman 2-meter man Ivan Babic. Janov, who came from Slovakia via Golden West College, has scored 13 points in 1998. He made the All-Southern California Tournament second team. Babic, who is from Yugoslavia, has scored 12 points.
