Thursday, December 5
Stockton, Calif.
1:00 PM
USC
15
vs
9
Bucknell
Players Mentioned
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
2M
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
2M
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
2M
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
Photo by: Catharyn Hayne
Trojans Beat Bucknell To Advance to NCAA Semifinals In Stockton
December 05, 2019 | Men's Water Polo, Features
USC is through to face Stanford in the semis on Saturday.
STOCKTON, CALIF. — The USC men's water polo team built some momentum in its 15th straight NCAA appearance, netting a solid 15-9 win over Bucknell in today's Opening Round matchup at Chris Kjeldsen Pool in Stockton, Calif. The Trojans turned a slow start into an offensive onslaught, swamping the Bison with a 4-0 surge in the second period to take over control of the game. The win pushes USC (15-5) into the NCAA semifinals on Saturday (Dec. 7) at 5 p.m. against top-seeded Stanford.
USC saw senior Sam Slobodien and junior Jacob Mercep each rattle in hat tricks on the day, while senior Matt Maier netted back-to-back goals in the fourth to get to 100 career goals as a Trojan. In all, 10 Trojans would score in the win, while goalies Nic Porter and Vaios Vlahotasios both capped up in the cage. Porter would claim nine saves and allow just four goals in his three periods of work, with Vlahotasios making three saves in the fourth frame.Â
The Trojans were forced to play catch-up in the first period, as Bucknell converted on two power plays to stay a step ahead of USC. The Trojans got equalizers from Chris Sturtevant and Mercep as USC pulled back even at 1-1 and 2-2, but the Bison scored off a foul in the final minute to move ahead again, up 3-2 at the end of the first period. That's when the Trojans clicked back in. USC fired off four unanswered goals in the second period. Mercep's 5-meter penalty shot knotted things up for the last time at 3-3 before Slobodien exploded out of set for the go-ahead goal and USC's first lead of the day. After staunch defensive stands by the Trojans, Slobodien earned a 6-on-5 and Hannes Daube laced it in to make it 5-3 USC. Senior Marin Dasic buried the ball next for USC, and the Trojans were up 6-3 by halftime.Â
USC ballooned its lead in the third by firing off four more goals around one lone score by the Bison. Marcus Longton and Luka Karaman both got on the scoresheets in the third, while Mercep completed his hat trick and Slobodien issued another slam from the post. Up 10-4 entering the fourth, USC was able to stay the course to victory. Along the way, Slobodien ripped in his third of the day, Maier worked his way to his 100th career goal, and Corey Allan scored the first goal of his USC career. James Kolenda came through as USC's 10th scorer in the win, which wrapped as a 15-9 Trojan victory to punch that ticket to the NCAA semifinals.Â
USC is in the NCAA Tournament for the 15th consecutive year and aiming for an 11th national championship. Saturday's NCAA semifinal presents a rematch of last year's NCAA final, which the Trojans won 14-12 over host Stanford to claim the 2018 title.Â
2019 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
OPENING ROUND
USC 15, Bucknell 9
Dec. 5, 2019 | Chris Kjeldsen Pool (Stockton, Calif.)
USC Â 2 - 4 - 4 - 5 = 15
BU Â Â 3 - 0 - 1 - 5 = 9
SCORING:
USC — Jacob Mercep 3, Sam Slobodien 3, Matt Maier 2, Chris Sturtevant, Hannes Daube, Marin Dasic, Marcus Longton, Luka Karaman, Corey Allan, James Kolenda.
BU — Logan Schofield 2, Rade Joksimovic 2, Andu Vlasceanu 2, Cooper Dolan, Cullen Jacuzzi, Nikl de la Sierra.
SAVES:Â Nic Porter (USC) 9 [3 periods], Vaios Vlahotasios (USC) 3 [4th period], Adrien Touzot (BU) 6.
Â
USC saw senior Sam Slobodien and junior Jacob Mercep each rattle in hat tricks on the day, while senior Matt Maier netted back-to-back goals in the fourth to get to 100 career goals as a Trojan. In all, 10 Trojans would score in the win, while goalies Nic Porter and Vaios Vlahotasios both capped up in the cage. Porter would claim nine saves and allow just four goals in his three periods of work, with Vlahotasios making three saves in the fourth frame.Â
The Trojans were forced to play catch-up in the first period, as Bucknell converted on two power plays to stay a step ahead of USC. The Trojans got equalizers from Chris Sturtevant and Mercep as USC pulled back even at 1-1 and 2-2, but the Bison scored off a foul in the final minute to move ahead again, up 3-2 at the end of the first period. That's when the Trojans clicked back in. USC fired off four unanswered goals in the second period. Mercep's 5-meter penalty shot knotted things up for the last time at 3-3 before Slobodien exploded out of set for the go-ahead goal and USC's first lead of the day. After staunch defensive stands by the Trojans, Slobodien earned a 6-on-5 and Hannes Daube laced it in to make it 5-3 USC. Senior Marin Dasic buried the ball next for USC, and the Trojans were up 6-3 by halftime.Â
USC ballooned its lead in the third by firing off four more goals around one lone score by the Bison. Marcus Longton and Luka Karaman both got on the scoresheets in the third, while Mercep completed his hat trick and Slobodien issued another slam from the post. Up 10-4 entering the fourth, USC was able to stay the course to victory. Along the way, Slobodien ripped in his third of the day, Maier worked his way to his 100th career goal, and Corey Allan scored the first goal of his USC career. James Kolenda came through as USC's 10th scorer in the win, which wrapped as a 15-9 Trojan victory to punch that ticket to the NCAA semifinals.Â
USC is in the NCAA Tournament for the 15th consecutive year and aiming for an 11th national championship. Saturday's NCAA semifinal presents a rematch of last year's NCAA final, which the Trojans won 14-12 over host Stanford to claim the 2018 title.Â
2019 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
OPENING ROUND
USC 15, Bucknell 9
Dec. 5, 2019 | Chris Kjeldsen Pool (Stockton, Calif.)
USC Â 2 - 4 - 4 - 5 = 15
BU Â Â 3 - 0 - 1 - 5 = 9
SCORING:
USC — Jacob Mercep 3, Sam Slobodien 3, Matt Maier 2, Chris Sturtevant, Hannes Daube, Marin Dasic, Marcus Longton, Luka Karaman, Corey Allan, James Kolenda.
BU — Logan Schofield 2, Rade Joksimovic 2, Andu Vlasceanu 2, Cooper Dolan, Cullen Jacuzzi, Nikl de la Sierra.
SAVES:Â Nic Porter (USC) 9 [3 periods], Vaios Vlahotasios (USC) 3 [4th period], Adrien Touzot (BU) 6.
Â
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