University Southern California Trojans
Men's Water Polo Visits UC Irvine
June 21, 1999 | Men's Water Polo
October 20, 1998
THIS WEEK - The USC men's water polo team (13-1 overall, 3-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), which suffered its first loss of the season after 11 straight wins, returns to conference play when it travels to UC Irvine on Saturday (Oct. 24) for a match at noon. The No. 1 ranking and the lead in the MPSF is likely on the line. Then, the Trojans go to UC San Diego for a non-conference game on Sunday (Oct. 25) at noon.
RANKINGS - USC was ranked No. 1 in the Oct. 13 American Water Polo Coaches Association Top 20 Poll. UC Irvine was No. 4 and UC San Diego was No. 10.
OPPONENTS - UC Irvine (10-4, 2-0 - plays Long Beach State on Wednesday) won the Northern California Tournament over the weekend and is on a six-game winning streak since losing to USC, 7-6, in a non-conference match on Oct. 4. Senior 2-meter man Ryan Bailey leads the team with 46 points ... UC San Diego (11-7) and USC have not met this season, but the Trojans lead the series 26-0 (since 1979, when records begin).
LAST WEEK - USC suffered its first loss of the season and placed fifth at the Northern California Tournament, hosted by Stanford, over the weekend (Oct. 17-18). The Trojans crushed UC Davis, 28-3, but didn't have enough goals left for later in the day when they lost to Pacific, 7-5. They then fell behind California, 5-1, before rallying to beat the Bears, 9-7, in overtime. USC went on to rout Pepperdine, 10-4, in the fifth-place game. Allen Basso, George Csaszar and Marko Pintaric each had eight points over the four games to lead the Trojans. The 28 goals scored against UC Davis could be a school record, as it was the most since at least 1979, when USC's records begin.
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 27 goals and 30 points (fifth in the MPSF). He has scored in all 14 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. 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 30 goals and 34 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 21 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 15 points in 1998. He made the All-Southern California Tournament second team. Babic, who is from Yugoslavia, has scored 18 points.
