Men's Water Polo Seeks First NCAA Title
June 21, 1999 | Men's Water Polo
December 1, 1998
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's water polo team (23-3 overall, 8-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for first place) is back in familiar territory, as the Trojans are one of four teams competing at this weekend's NCAA Championships. USC, which has finished second nationally four of the last five years and six times overall, is seeking its first-ever title. The Trojans received the at-large bid to the tournament after taking third place at the MPSF Championships. In the first round, USC plays UMass on Friday (Dec. 4) at 6:30 p.m. Should USC win, it will move on to face either Stanford or UC San Diego in the championship on Sunday (Dec. 6) at 3 p.m. All games are at the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Center at Corona del Mar (Calif.) High School.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Dec. 4; Game #1: USC vs. UMass, 6:30 p.m.; Game #2: Stanford vs. UC San Diego, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6; Game #3: third-place game, 1:30 p.m.; Game #4: championship, 3 p.m.
RANKINGS - USC was ranked No. 1 in the Nov. 25 coaches poll. Stanford was No. 3, UC San Diego was No. 10 and UMass was No. 11.
NOTES & STATS - The offense is averaging 11.0 points a game, while the defense is giving up 6.4 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 25 two-pointers and is approaching the school record of 28, set in 1995.
VS. UMASS - The Minutemen (27-4) won the Eastern Collegiate Water Polo Association title. They are led by senior 2-meter man Brian Stahl's 101 points. USC and UMass have met twice previously and the Trojans won both games. The first meeting was also an NCAA Tournament first-round matchup, a 21-6 USC win back in 1996. The last time they met, USC posted a 13-4 victory in the 1997 Northern California Tournament.
VS. STANFORD - The Cardinal (20-6) beat the Trojans in the semifinals of the MPSF Tournament and went on to win the title and advance to the NCAAs. Stanford is led by senior Layne Beaubien, who has scored 44 points. This year, the Trojans won three of the four meetings, though all four games were decided by two goals or less. Since 1979 (when USC records begin), the Cardinal leads the series, 47-19. USC is 2-3 against Stanford in the NCAAs (0-2 in the championship game, back in 1993 and 1994). The Cardinal has won eight NCAA crowns.
VS. UC SAN DIEGO - The Tritons (17-11) captured the Western Water Polo Association championship. UCSD junior Ross Mecham has a team-high 60 points. The two teams met once previously this season, a 12-11 Trojan victory on Oct. 25. Since 1979, USC is 27-0 against UCSD, and is 2-0 in the NCAA Championships (first-round wins in 1992 and 1993).
USC IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT - This is USC's 17th appearance in the NCAAs and the Trojans have an overall record of 29-18 (.617). USC has never won the championship, which began in 1969, but has placed second six times (1983-87-93-94-96-97) and third four times (1973-84-88-92). Five Trojans will be playing in their third straight NCAA Tournament (1996-97-98): Allen Basso, James Castle, Luke Daniels, Johnathon Hewko and Richard McEvoy.
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 447-253-7 (.637). Vavic was promoted to co-head coach prior to 1995, and since then, USC is 87-18 (.829).
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 40 goals and 50 points (eighth 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. Marko also made the All-MPSF Tournament second team.
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 188 saves, an average of 8.2 a game (sixth in the MPSF), and is allowing 6.5 points a game (fourth in the MPSF). McEvoy has reached double-digit saves in eight games. 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 after getting 11 saves in a win 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 the Trojans' top scorer with 54 points (tied for third in the MPSF) on 47 goals and seven two-pointers. He fared particularly 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 and the All-MPSF 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 35 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 34 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 the All-MPSF 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 35 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 in which 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 23 points. He had six goals against UC Davis (Oct. 17). He is one of just a few Trojans that will be playing 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 14 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.
1998 MPSF CHAMPIONSHIPS - The Trojans were the top seed at the MPSFs but finished third after going 2-1. USC beat Long Beach State, 6-5, in the first-round game. But Stanford then beat USC, which was contending for a third straight tournament title, in the semifinals with a 7-6 sudden-death overtime victory. The Trojans rebounded with a 12-9 win over UC Irvine in the third-place game. George Csaszar, Peter Janov and Marko Pintaric were all named to the All-Tournament second team. Csaszar was USC's top scorer, getting six points in the three games, while Ivan Babic and James Castle each scored four goals.
1997 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS - The Trojans advanced to their second straight NCAAs in 1997 by winning the MPSF Tournament. In the first round, the Trojans defeated Queens (N.Y.) College, 14-6. That set up a final against Pepperdine with two teams that had never won an NCAA title. The Waves won the championship, 8-7, in overtime as Andy Bruininga scored with 44 seconds left in the second overtime period to break the tie. Marko Pintaric led the Trojans in the final with three goals. Pintaric and Simun Cimerman made the All-Tournament first team and Richard McEvoy, James Castle and Mateo Juric made the second team.
