Eight Trojans Earn ACWPC All-America Status

For the fifth time in nine years, USC has landed a program-high eight Trojans on the list for All-American status from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches. This year's crew is led by a pair of seniors on the First Team, as McQuin Baron grabs his fourth All-American honor and Lachlan Edwards snags his third selection. Also now a three-time All-American, senior Blake Edwards is joined on the Second Team by freshman Marko Vavic. Fellow senior Matteo Morelli, meanwhile, has a spot on the Third Team to close out his USC career as a three-time All-American. Three more Trojans appear on the Honorable Mention list, as sophomore Matt Maier repeats and seniors Grant Stein and James Walters lock up their third All-American honors as Trojans.

Now a back-to-back First Team All-American to go along with a pair of Second Team selection during his tenure at Troy, senior goalie McQuin Baron took over as USC's all-time saves leader early in his senior campaign. By year's end, Baron had set a new career saves record among MPSF goalies as he wraps up his USC career holding 1,085 career saves. He made 268 of those in 2017, averaging 10.72 saves per game and allowing just 5.8 goals-against while hitting double-digit saves in 12 different games. Also this year, Baron was named the MPSF Tournament MVP and to the NCAA All-Tournament Second Team. He was an All-MPSF First Team pick as well in 2017. Baron is the 11th Trojan to finish his USC career as a four-time All-American.

Also an All-MPSF First Team honoree, senior two-meter man Lachlan Edwards has upgraded his All-American status to First Team this year. A Third Team pick in 2016 and a Second Team selection in 2015, Edwards scored 33 goals for the Trojans in 2017 and earned countless exclusions for the Trojan cause to keep USC on the attack. His scoring effort this year also bumped up his career total to 141 goals, ranking him No. 17 all-time in career scoring at USC. Also picked to the MPSF All-Tournament Team, Edwards scored in 20 games this year with 10 multiple-goal efforts, including a career-high five-goal outburst.

Slated for Second Team All-America honors for 2017, senior Blake Edwards closes his USC career as a three-time All-America. USC's second leading scorer with 46 this season, Edwards cracked USC's all-time top-10 in career scoring this year. With 156 career goals, he ranks No. 9 all-time at Troy. He also hit a new career high this season with a seven-goal game, as Edwards scored in a team-best 25 games with 14 multiple-goal outings. He scored a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament First Team and also was an All-MPSF Second Team pick this year.

Freshman Marko Vavic opened his USC career as the Trojans' top scorer in 2017 with 51 goals. A Second Team All-American after one season of work, Vavic also earned All-MPSF Honorable Mention and was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament First Team. He also was a three-time MPSF Newcomer of the Week pick. Vavic scored in 24 games with a team-high 18 multiple-goal outings, including a hat trick in USC's NCAA semifinal win over Cal.

The lone Trojan on the All-America Third Team, senior Matteo Morelli has pocketed his third All-American honor after earning Honorable Mention as a sophomore in 2015 and Second Team honors in 2016. Also an All-MPSF Second Team selection, Morelli was USC's third leading scorer in 2017 with 38 goals. He scored a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament First Team and bumped his career scoring tally to 148 to finish his USC career ranking No. 13 all-time at Troy.

This year's All-America Honorable Mention list includes three Trojans — all repeat All-Americans and all instrumental in USC's 2017 campaign. With this year's accolades, seniors Grant Stein and James Walters have secured their third All-American honors. Stein was a Third Team pick last year and earned Honorable Mention with Walters as sophomores in 2015. Walters also was an Honorable Mention recipient as a freshman in 2014. Stein stood as USC's fourth leading scorer in 2017 with 35 goals, giving him 145 in his Trojan career to rank No. 15 all-time in USC's history books. Stein scored in 20 games with 10 multiple-goal games, including a hat trick in USC's NCAA semifinal win over Cal. Walters scored 24 goals in his senior season to finish his USC career with 94 goals. In 2017, Walters scored in 16 games with six multiple-goal outings. For sophomore Matt Maier, he now holds back-to-back posts on the All-America Honorable Mention list. He provided 26 goals in his sophomore season, scoring in 17 games with eight multiple-goal efforts.

USC's eight All-Americans matches a program best also achieved in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

USC's 2017 ACWPC All-Americans
First Team
McQuin Baron
Lachlan Edwards

Second Team
Blake Edwards
Marko Vavic

Third Team
Matteo Morelli

Honorable Mention
Matt Maier
Grant Stein
James Walters

Players Mentioned

McQuin Baron

Blake Edwards

Lachlan Edwards

Matt Maier

Matteo Morelli

Grant Stein

Marko Vavic

James Walters