University Southern California Trojans
Men's Water Polo Opens MPSF Play This Weekend
September 21, 1999 | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 21, 1999
LOS ANGELES - The defending NCAA champion USC men's water polo team (5-1 overall, 0-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), coming off a second-place finish in its own Southern California Tournament, begins MPSF play this Saturday (Sept. 25) at UC Santa Barbara (3-2, 0-0) at 1 p.m. The Trojans keep to the road to face Pepperdine (2-3) on Sunday (Sept. 26) at noon in a non-conference match.
RANKINGS - USC was ranked No. 1 in the Sept. 15 American Water Polo Coaches Association Top 20 Poll (the Trojans will likely move to No. 2 when the new poll comes out this week). UC Santa Barbara was tied for No. 5 and Pepperdine was No. 8.
OPPONENTS - UC Santa Barbara (3-2, 0-0) did not place in the final eight at the Southern California Tournament. Amit Seker leads the Gauchos with 11 points. Since 1979, when USC records begin, the Trojans hold a 34-12-2 series lead and have won 14 in a row ... Pepperdine (2-3) placed sixth at the Southern California Tournament. Sean Hylton, a former USC player, leads the Waves with 10 points. Since 1979, when USC records begin, the Trojans hold a 34-15-1 series lead.
LAST WEEKEND - In a rematch of the 1998 NCAA championship game, it was Stanford that this time came away with an overtime victory over the Trojans, as the Cardinal pulled out an 11-10 victory in the final of the Southern California Tournament, hosted by USC, on Sunday (Sept. 19). Previously, the Trojans had beaten Pacific (12-3), UC Santa Barbara (7-5) and UC Irvine (5-4). George Csaszar was USC's top scorer in the tournament with nine points and goalie Richard McEvoy made 37 saves in the four games.
JOVAN VAVIC - After serving as co-head coach for the last four seasons, Vavic takes over as head coach in 1999. The last year has been a good one for Vavic, as he helped the USC men to the 1998 NCAA championship, then led the USC women to the 1999 national championship as their head coach. Entering this season, Vavic's record as co-head coach was 89-18 (.832).
RICHARD McEVOY - After earning All-American third team status the last two seasons, Richard McEvoy (Pembroke Pines, FL/Cooper City HS) may very well be the best goalie in the country as a 1999 senior. He has made 57 saves in 1999, 9.5 per game, and is allowing 6.2 points per game. He ranks fourth on USC's career save list with 449. McEvoy made the All-Southern California Tournament second team.
GEORGE CSASZAR - USC's leading scorer in 1998, George Csaszar is off to another good start as a 1999 junior driver. A native of Hungary, he leads USC with 14 points this season. He made the All-Southern California Tournament first team. Last year he made the All-American second team and scored 60 points.
ALLEN BASSO - One of USC's most veteran players, senior driver Allen Basso (Lake Forest/El Toro HS) is off to a terrific start. He has scored 13 points, good for second on the team. He made the All-Southern California Tournament first team. He was named MPSF Player of the Week on Sept. 13 after scoring five points in the season opener against Long Beach State. Last season he made All-American honorable mention and scored 25 points.
OTHERS - In addition to McEvoy, Csaszar and Basso, the Trojans feature three other All-Americans from a year ago ... Senior 2-meter man James Castle (Hacienda Heights/Wilson HS), an All-American second teamer in 1998, has been slowed by injury to start the 1999 season. He has scored one point ... Senior 2-meter man Peter Janov (Bratislava, Slovakia) is considered USC's ironman because of the amount of minutes he plays. An All-American honorable mention last season, he has scored six points this season ... Sophomore 2-meter man Ivan Babic (Belgrade, Yugoslavia) is another standout who also made All-American honorable mention last season. He has six points in 1999.
