USC
*UC Irvine
Trojans Stay Perfect At Home; Top UC Irvine 9-7
November 17, 2007 | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 17, 2007
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - The No. 2 USC men's water polo team capped off a third straight undefeated home season with a 9-7 win over No. 5 UC Irvine on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans - honoring seven departing seniors - pushed past the Anteaters and held them off thanks in part to 14 saves from senior goalie Adam Shilling. Sophomore Matt Sagehorn punched in a career-high four goals for the Trojans, as USC improves to 15-2 overall and finishes the MPSF regular season with a 6-2 record. UC Irvine moves to 12-10, 4-4.
The win marked USC's 27th consecutive home victory and wraps up a home record of 5-0 for the Trojans at McDonald's Swim Stadium. USC now turns to head into the MPSF Tournament, which is set to be held in Berkeley from Nov. 23-25.
In USC's regular-season finale at McDonald's Swim Stadium, the Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Drew Vyn and Gabor Sarusi. UC Irvine would get a score before the close of the first from Tim Hutten - who went on to score a game-high five goals for the Anteaters. Hutten and USC's Matt Sagehorn traded goals in the second, with Hutten tying things up twice and Sagehorn serving up go-ahead goals to get USC a 4-3 lead entering halftime.
To open the third period, Nico Sardo knocked in a score for a two-goal USC edge, and the Trojan defense would hold UCI to just a single strike while Sagehorn continued to cause trouble for the Anteaters. His third of the day came in the final minute of the period, and then Sagehorn struck again before the close of the third with a counterattack goal for a 7-4 USC lead entering the fourth.
Goalie Adam Shilling served up some big blocks in the fourth period on his way to a grand total of 14 saves in the match. Sarusi scored his second of the day to put UC Irvine out of reach with a four-goal lead. The Anteaters would manage three goals in the fourth, but a quick strike off the foul from Tommy Corcoran would help the Trojans keep a padded lead despite a 5-meter penalty shot and a late goal from the Anteaters.
#1 USC 9, #5 UC Irvine 7
UCI 1 - 2 - 1 - 3 --- 7
USC 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 --- 9
SCORING:
USC - Matt Sagehorn 4, Gabor Sarusi 2, Drew Vyn, Nico Sardo, Tommy Corcoran.
UCI - Tim Hutten 5, Cole Bielskis, Colin Mello.
SAVES: Adam Shilling (USC) 14, Matt Garcia (UCI) 9.
