Friday, October 27
Long Beach, Calif.
7:00 PM
USC
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Long Beach State
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Photo by: Katie Chin
No. 4 USC Men’s Water Polo Loads Up For Night Game At No. 8 Long Beach State
October 25, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
Trojans face the Beach at 7 p.m. on Friday for a key nonconference clash.
#4 USC (10-5) at #8 Long Beach St. (14-9)
1 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 27 | Long Beach, Calif.
Series Record (since 1979): USC leads 75-15-1 (W35)
Last Meeting: USC 14, USC 10 (ot) [Sept. 8, 2022]
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 4 USC gets back to game action this week, setting up for a night clash in Long Beach. The Trojans (10-5) will pay a visit to No. 8 Long Beach State (14-9) for a 7 p.m. meeting on Friday (Oct. 27) at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center.
RANKINGS
USC started the 2023 season ranked No. 2 in the national preseason poll and tied at No. 2 in the preseason MPSF Coaches Poll. Currently 10-5 overall, USC is ranked No. 4 in the nation as of the latest set of national rankings (released Oct. 25). USC also spent four weeks at No. 3 this year.
LAST ACTION
USC had a tough day on the offensive end of the pool in its last official action, taking an 11-2 loss to undefeated No. 1 UCLA in an MPSF matchup at the Bruins' Spieker Aquatic Center on Oct. 14. UCLA constructed a 3-0 lead as the Trojans were held scoreless in the first period of play — only the second time this season that USC has come up empty in quarter. The Bruins added to that and went up 4-0 with an early goal in the second before Massimo Di Martire broke through for the Trojans. His rifle shot off a foul got USC on the board at 5:32, although UCLA would strike out of set four minutes later to make it a 5-1 UCLA lead for halftime. Carson Kranz carved down the deficit by lacing a shot to the upper 90, and it was a 5-2 margin with 4:57 on the clock in the third. The Bruins got the momentum back in benefiting from back-to-back 6-on-5 opportunities, and while USC misfired UCLA would build out a 9-2 lead entering the fourth. Again, USC was unable to find the back of the net through the final period, and UCLA tacked up two more to round out the 11-2 decision in Westwood.
NOTABLE:
- With his goal, Massimo Di Martire leads the Trojans with 27 goals scored this season. It was his 90th career goals as a Trojan.
- With his goal, SR Carson Kranz extends his scoring streak to nine straight games with at least one goal scored.
- The nine-goal loss to UCLA was USC's largest margin of defeat to the Bruins on record (1979 to present).
- USC's two goals scored matched the lowest scoring total in a game on record (last game finishing with two goals was in 2002).
- USC is now 78-69-1 all-time against UCLA in a series dating back to 1979.
BY THE NUMBERS
Massimo Di Martire is currently spearheading USC's scoring charge with 27 goals, just ahead of Max Miller's 26 to date. Di Martire has scored in all 14 games in which he's played, matching with Miller in having tallied eight multiple-goal games this year. The Trojans' assists leader is senior Tom McGuire with 25, while Di Martire tops the steals board with 24. Miller and fellow two-meter man Tony Nardelli have combined for 69 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 41 through his 15 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Bernardo Herzer capping up in 11 games and redshirt sophomore Eric Hubner checking for seven. In their respective USC debuts, Herzer (12 saves vs. Pomona-Pitzer) and freshman Charles Mills (13 saves vs. Biola) set career highs. All told, USC's goalkeeping corps is averaging 9.8 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 190-133 for an average of 12.7 goals per game offensively and 8.9 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in 12 periods of regulation play.
MPSF TO THE MAX
USC capped off a sizable home stretch with a decisive win over visiting No. 10 Pacific, led by senior Max Miller's four-goal outburst. For his efforts, Miller was named MPSF Player of the Week for the first time in his Trojan career with his pick on Oct. 2. Miller scored USC's first three goals of the game in an eventual 16-6 win over the Tigers. The victory avenged last year's road loss at Pacific thanks to a well-rounded USC effort, led by Miller's four goals to go along with a drawn exclusion and steal by the senior. He was 4-of-5 shooting in the USC win. Miller is the first Trojan to win the award since 2021. He was an MPSF Newcomer of the Week selection as a freshman in 2020.
BETTINO ON THE BOARD
Freshman Zach Bettino captured his first official award as a Trojan in being selected MPSF Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 25 following a clutch performance at the Overnght/MPSF Invitational. Bettino scored the game-winning goal in overtime and finished with a career-high four goals to help USC beat No. 4 Stanford 13-12 in the third-place game on Sunday. Before that game, Bettino's season best had been two-goal outings, making this game a breakout for the freshman, who also had five assists at the tournament. Against the Cardinal, he was 4-of-6 shooting and dealt out an assist and a steal. Bettino is the first Trojan to pick up weekly honors from the conference this season, and is the 12th USC player to earn the award since it began in 2016. He is now fifth on the team in scoring this season with 15 goals.
BACK FOR MORE
USC returns over half of its 2022 NCAA roster, including All-American and MPSF Newcomer of the Year Massimo Di Martire, who led the Trojans in scoring with 63 goals in the 2022 season — seven of those goals scored in the NCAA Tournament. Senior captain Carson Kranz and junior Luka Brnetic also return as All-MPSF honorees, with Kranz and Max Miller tabbed as team captains for 2023. Brnetic and Reed Stemler are seasoned hole guards ready to shut down any moves at two-meters. In front of the cage as well will be senior captain Miller and Tony Nardelli, each bringing valuable experience in their fourth years as centers. Newcomer Connor Cohen and sophomore Zac Crenshaw also add size and power to that spot for the Trojans. Back in the water for his sophomore season, Andrej Grgurevic spent his summer playing with the Australian Junior National Team. Grgurevic scored 21 goals as a true freshman last season.
STRIKE FORCE
With the graduation of some powerful left-handed shooters, sophomore Jack Vort, freshman Zach Bettino and redshirt freshman Charlie Saunders are ready to step up on the 4-6 side, joined by righties Di Martire and Jake Carter, who are proven sharpshooters on that side of the pool. Working on the 1-2 side is a group of guys making an impact with their utility and speed on both sides of the pool in returners Evan Ausmus, Tom McGuire, Joshua Waldoch and Aidan Wattson.
CAGE FIGHTERS
The Trojans' goalie squad is ripe with skill and size, with 6-foot-7 Eric Hubner bringing upperclassman experience and 6-6 Bernardo Herzer coming off a redshirt year. Incoming freshman goalies Charles Mills and Cooper Mathisrud further bolster USC in the cage as the group competes for playing time as the backbone of the Trojan defense.
NEW CREW
The balance of the 2023 USC squad is rounded out by new additions to the roster. Stanford transfer Jack Martin and Serbian newcomer Stefan Brankovic are raising the level of competition in practice for the younger additions of Spencer Averitt, Chase Landa, Luke Nelson and Will Sanchez. Each player on the roster has an opportunity to make an impact on the way to NCAAs.
PINTA'S PROGRAM
Marko Pintaric, who has been part of 14 NCAA championships during his 21 years on the USC coaching staff, is in his fifth year at the helm of the Trojan men's program. Last season, he guided the Trojans to an 18th consecutive NCAA appearance, reaching the NCAA final for the 17th time in that span. An All-American and 1998 NCAA champion as a player at USC, Pintaric served as co-head coach for the USC men for three seasons (2016-18), most recently helping the Trojans to the 2018 NCAA Championship. His USC coaching career began as an assistant coach to both the USC men and women in 2001. Pintaric stayed in a dual coaching role until NCAA rules for coaching staff sizes changed in 2015-16, prompting a move to a scouting director role with the women while his assistant coaching role continued with the men for the next four years.
LAST SEASON
USC's 2022 campaign saw the Trojans win the MPSF Tournament championship in order to clinch an 18th straight trip to the NCAA tourney. USC finished up undefeated at home and posted a 20-7 overall record after a run to the NCAA title match, where USC fell in a one-goal loss to host Cal. At season's end, USC had four players earn ACWPC All-America honors in First Team picks Jake Ehrhardt, Massimo Di Martire and Ashworth Molthen along with second-team selection Kyle McKenney. Ehrhardt also was picked as a finalist for the 2022 Peter J. Cutino Award. •
1 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 27 | Long Beach, Calif.
Series Record (since 1979): USC leads 75-15-1 (W35)
Last Meeting: USC 14, USC 10 (ot) [Sept. 8, 2022]
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 4 USC gets back to game action this week, setting up for a night clash in Long Beach. The Trojans (10-5) will pay a visit to No. 8 Long Beach State (14-9) for a 7 p.m. meeting on Friday (Oct. 27) at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center.
RANKINGS
USC started the 2023 season ranked No. 2 in the national preseason poll and tied at No. 2 in the preseason MPSF Coaches Poll. Currently 10-5 overall, USC is ranked No. 4 in the nation as of the latest set of national rankings (released Oct. 25). USC also spent four weeks at No. 3 this year.
LAST ACTION
USC had a tough day on the offensive end of the pool in its last official action, taking an 11-2 loss to undefeated No. 1 UCLA in an MPSF matchup at the Bruins' Spieker Aquatic Center on Oct. 14. UCLA constructed a 3-0 lead as the Trojans were held scoreless in the first period of play — only the second time this season that USC has come up empty in quarter. The Bruins added to that and went up 4-0 with an early goal in the second before Massimo Di Martire broke through for the Trojans. His rifle shot off a foul got USC on the board at 5:32, although UCLA would strike out of set four minutes later to make it a 5-1 UCLA lead for halftime. Carson Kranz carved down the deficit by lacing a shot to the upper 90, and it was a 5-2 margin with 4:57 on the clock in the third. The Bruins got the momentum back in benefiting from back-to-back 6-on-5 opportunities, and while USC misfired UCLA would build out a 9-2 lead entering the fourth. Again, USC was unable to find the back of the net through the final period, and UCLA tacked up two more to round out the 11-2 decision in Westwood.
NOTABLE:
- With his goal, Massimo Di Martire leads the Trojans with 27 goals scored this season. It was his 90th career goals as a Trojan.
- With his goal, SR Carson Kranz extends his scoring streak to nine straight games with at least one goal scored.
- The nine-goal loss to UCLA was USC's largest margin of defeat to the Bruins on record (1979 to present).
- USC's two goals scored matched the lowest scoring total in a game on record (last game finishing with two goals was in 2002).
- USC is now 78-69-1 all-time against UCLA in a series dating back to 1979.
BY THE NUMBERS
Massimo Di Martire is currently spearheading USC's scoring charge with 27 goals, just ahead of Max Miller's 26 to date. Di Martire has scored in all 14 games in which he's played, matching with Miller in having tallied eight multiple-goal games this year. The Trojans' assists leader is senior Tom McGuire with 25, while Di Martire tops the steals board with 24. Miller and fellow two-meter man Tony Nardelli have combined for 69 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 41 through his 15 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Bernardo Herzer capping up in 11 games and redshirt sophomore Eric Hubner checking for seven. In their respective USC debuts, Herzer (12 saves vs. Pomona-Pitzer) and freshman Charles Mills (13 saves vs. Biola) set career highs. All told, USC's goalkeeping corps is averaging 9.8 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 190-133 for an average of 12.7 goals per game offensively and 8.9 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in 12 periods of regulation play.
MPSF TO THE MAX
USC capped off a sizable home stretch with a decisive win over visiting No. 10 Pacific, led by senior Max Miller's four-goal outburst. For his efforts, Miller was named MPSF Player of the Week for the first time in his Trojan career with his pick on Oct. 2. Miller scored USC's first three goals of the game in an eventual 16-6 win over the Tigers. The victory avenged last year's road loss at Pacific thanks to a well-rounded USC effort, led by Miller's four goals to go along with a drawn exclusion and steal by the senior. He was 4-of-5 shooting in the USC win. Miller is the first Trojan to win the award since 2021. He was an MPSF Newcomer of the Week selection as a freshman in 2020.
BETTINO ON THE BOARD
Freshman Zach Bettino captured his first official award as a Trojan in being selected MPSF Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 25 following a clutch performance at the Overnght/MPSF Invitational. Bettino scored the game-winning goal in overtime and finished with a career-high four goals to help USC beat No. 4 Stanford 13-12 in the third-place game on Sunday. Before that game, Bettino's season best had been two-goal outings, making this game a breakout for the freshman, who also had five assists at the tournament. Against the Cardinal, he was 4-of-6 shooting and dealt out an assist and a steal. Bettino is the first Trojan to pick up weekly honors from the conference this season, and is the 12th USC player to earn the award since it began in 2016. He is now fifth on the team in scoring this season with 15 goals.
BACK FOR MORE
USC returns over half of its 2022 NCAA roster, including All-American and MPSF Newcomer of the Year Massimo Di Martire, who led the Trojans in scoring with 63 goals in the 2022 season — seven of those goals scored in the NCAA Tournament. Senior captain Carson Kranz and junior Luka Brnetic also return as All-MPSF honorees, with Kranz and Max Miller tabbed as team captains for 2023. Brnetic and Reed Stemler are seasoned hole guards ready to shut down any moves at two-meters. In front of the cage as well will be senior captain Miller and Tony Nardelli, each bringing valuable experience in their fourth years as centers. Newcomer Connor Cohen and sophomore Zac Crenshaw also add size and power to that spot for the Trojans. Back in the water for his sophomore season, Andrej Grgurevic spent his summer playing with the Australian Junior National Team. Grgurevic scored 21 goals as a true freshman last season.
STRIKE FORCE
With the graduation of some powerful left-handed shooters, sophomore Jack Vort, freshman Zach Bettino and redshirt freshman Charlie Saunders are ready to step up on the 4-6 side, joined by righties Di Martire and Jake Carter, who are proven sharpshooters on that side of the pool. Working on the 1-2 side is a group of guys making an impact with their utility and speed on both sides of the pool in returners Evan Ausmus, Tom McGuire, Joshua Waldoch and Aidan Wattson.
CAGE FIGHTERS
The Trojans' goalie squad is ripe with skill and size, with 6-foot-7 Eric Hubner bringing upperclassman experience and 6-6 Bernardo Herzer coming off a redshirt year. Incoming freshman goalies Charles Mills and Cooper Mathisrud further bolster USC in the cage as the group competes for playing time as the backbone of the Trojan defense.
NEW CREW
The balance of the 2023 USC squad is rounded out by new additions to the roster. Stanford transfer Jack Martin and Serbian newcomer Stefan Brankovic are raising the level of competition in practice for the younger additions of Spencer Averitt, Chase Landa, Luke Nelson and Will Sanchez. Each player on the roster has an opportunity to make an impact on the way to NCAAs.
PINTA'S PROGRAM
Marko Pintaric, who has been part of 14 NCAA championships during his 21 years on the USC coaching staff, is in his fifth year at the helm of the Trojan men's program. Last season, he guided the Trojans to an 18th consecutive NCAA appearance, reaching the NCAA final for the 17th time in that span. An All-American and 1998 NCAA champion as a player at USC, Pintaric served as co-head coach for the USC men for three seasons (2016-18), most recently helping the Trojans to the 2018 NCAA Championship. His USC coaching career began as an assistant coach to both the USC men and women in 2001. Pintaric stayed in a dual coaching role until NCAA rules for coaching staff sizes changed in 2015-16, prompting a move to a scouting director role with the women while his assistant coaching role continued with the men for the next four years.
LAST SEASON
USC's 2022 campaign saw the Trojans win the MPSF Tournament championship in order to clinch an 18th straight trip to the NCAA tourney. USC finished up undefeated at home and posted a 20-7 overall record after a run to the NCAA title match, where USC fell in a one-goal loss to host Cal. At season's end, USC had four players earn ACWPC All-America honors in First Team picks Jake Ehrhardt, Massimo Di Martire and Ashworth Molthen along with second-team selection Kyle McKenney. Ehrhardt also was picked as a finalist for the 2022 Peter J. Cutino Award. •
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