University Southern California Trojans
Men's Water Polo Tries to Stay Unbeaten
June 21, 1999 | Men's Water Polo
September 29, 1998
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's water polo team (7-0 overall, 1-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), off to its best start since the 1983 season, will try and keep its perfect record intact but faces two tests at home this weekend. The Trojans meet Pacific on Saturday (Oct. 3) at 1 p.m. in an MPSF match and UC Irvine on Sunday (Oct. 4) at noon in a non-conference game.
RANKINGS - USC was ranked No. 1 in the Sept. 24 American Water Polo Coaches Association Top 20 Poll, while Pacific was No. 9 and UC Irvine was No. 6.
LAST WEEK - Sophomore driver George Csaszar kept his hot start going as the Trojans defeated No. 4 Pepperdine, 11-5, on Saturday (Sept. 26) in Malibu (the first meeting between the two schools since last year's NCAA championship game). Csaszar scored six goals. The Waves jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, but USC scored six of the game's next seven goals to take a 6-3 halftime lead. The Trojans scored the final five goals of the contest (including three by Csaszar) to secure the victory. Goalie Richard McEvoy made 10 saves for the Trojans.
OPPONENTS - Pacific (3-5, 1-1) is led by junior 2-meter man Gabe Esposto, who has 14 points. USC is 21-4 against UOP and has won the last eight meetings ... UC Irvine (4-3, 0-0) is led by senior 2-meter man Ryan Bailey's 30 points. USC is 30-23 against UCI (since 1979, when records begin) and has won the last six games.
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 already playing at the level that saw him lead USC in scoring in 1997 and earn All-American second team honors. He is second on the team with 12 goals and 13 points. A native of Croatia, Pintaric made the All-Southern California Tournament first team for the second straight year.
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 48 saves in six games. 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 18 goals and 21 points. After scoring 15 points in the first six games, he was named MPSF Player of the Week. 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 nine 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 10 points in 1998. He made the All-Southern California Tournament second team. Babic, who is from Yugoslavia, has scored seven points.
