University Southern California Trojans
Men's Water Polo Holds on to Top Ranking
June 21, 1999 | Men's Water Polo
October 27, 1998
LOS ANGELES -- The USC men's water polo team (15-1 overall, 4-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), coming off of two close calls, hosts a pair of matches this weekend. The Trojans meet UC Santa Barbara on Saturday (Oct. 31) during Homecoming festivities. The MPSF match will start at approximately 11:30 a.m. (or when the preliminaries for the USC Swimming Invitational end). USC then hosts Stanford on Sunday at noon in a non-conference game. Both contests are at the McDonald's Swim Stadium.
RANKINGS USC was ranked No. 1 in the Oct. 20 American Water Polo Coaches Association Top 20 Poll. UC Santa Barbara was No. 9 and Stanford was No. 4.
OPPONENTS UC Santa Barbara (5-9, 0-5 plays Loyola Marymount on Friday) is led by sophomore driver Joey Pacelli's 27 points. It's the first meeting of the year for the two schools ... Stanford (14-4, 5-1) is led by junior driver Brian Heifferon's 33 points. The Trojans beat the Cardinal, 7-6, in the first round of the So-Cal Tournament on Sept. 19.
LAST WEEK USC held on to the No. 1 ranking with a 10-7 overtime win at No. 2 UC Irvine on Saturday (Oct. 24). The Trojans fell behind by two goals in the second half, went on a 4-0 run, lost their two-goal lead, but won it thanks to a goal by Ivan Babic and a two-pointer by George Csaszar in overtime. The Trojans then survived with a 12-11 victory at No. 10 UC San Diego on Sunday (Oct. 25). James Castle scored two goals in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner with three minutes left.
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 30 goals and 35 points (fourth in the MPSF). He has scored in all 16 games in 1998. 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 104 saves (an average of 8.0 a game, good for fifth in the MPSF) and is allowing 6.2 points a game (third 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 35 goals and 40 points (second 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 23 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 17 points in 1998. He made the All-Southern California Tournament second team. Babic, who is from Yugoslavia, has scored 22 points.
