No. 2 Trojans Kick Off 2017 With Two Big Wins

Saturday, September 2

Los Angeles, CA

10:20 AM

USC

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Photo by: Frank Hoerman

No. 2 Trojans Kick Off 2017 With Two Big Wins

September 02, 2017 | Men's Water Polo, Features

2017 Season Outlook

USC outscores opponents 51-6 at the UCLA Mini Invitational.

WESTWOOD, CALIF. — The No. 2 USC men's water polo team kicked out to two big wins in its first action of 2017, with five Trojans registering their first career goals in the process. Marko Vavic, Troy Furniss, Christian Emerson, Christian Hockenbury and Chas Hornecker all tallied their first goals as Trojans today in helping USC to a 27-3 opening win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and a 24-3 victory over Pomona-Pitzer out at the UCLA Mini Invitational today at Spieker Aquatics Center in Westwood.

Senior goalie McQuin Baron capped up in the cage for the first half of both tilts, allowing just a single goal while compiling eight saves across his four periods of work. Sophomore Will Rubschlager stepped in for the second half of the matchup against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to haul in five saves while the Stags managed three goals in the 27-3 USC victory. Next, it was redshirt sophomore Simon Wu who spelled Baron for the second half against Pomona-Pitzer, allowing just a pair of goals while collecting three saves to wrap up the 24-3 win over the Sagehens.

On the offensive end, it was redshirt sophomore Sam Slobodien and senior Grant Stein who went big vs. the Stags. Both Trojans punched up four goals apiece while the Edwards brothers hammered home hat tricks to lead the Trojans' scoring surge. USC's season opener also saw true freshman Marko Vavic nail two goals in his Trojan debut, joined by redshirt sophomore Christian Emerson and redshirt freshman Troy Furniss on the scoresheet for the first time in their young USC careers. In all, USC got 15 Trojans in on the scoring action in the 27-3 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. USC constructed a 17-0 lead on the Stags before surrendering a goal at the start of the second half.

In game two, USC scored the first six goals of the matchup against Pomona-Pitzer, then made a 15-0 rally to take full control of things. Sophomore Thomas Dunstan and senior James Walters each delivered a hat trick to pace the Trojan offense, while two new Trojans tallied their first goals. Christian Hockenbury and Chas Hornecker both got on the board in the fourth quarter as USC put the finishing touches on a 24-3 win over the Sagehens.

USC now turns to its home opener next week, with the No. 2 Trojans hosting No. 3 Stanford in a heated MPSF battle at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The USC-Stanford showdown is set for 5 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 8) and will be televised on Pac-12 Networks.

2017 UCLA MINI INVITATIONAL (Spieker Aquatics Center | Westwood, Calif.)

GAME 1

#2 USC 27, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3

Sept. 2, 2017 | Westwood, Calif.

USC 7 - 10 - 5 - 5 = 27

CMS 0 - 0 - 1 - 2 = 3

SCORING: