Saturday, October 5
Los Angeles, Calif.
1 p.m.
USC
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California
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Photo by: Tomoki Chien
No. 2 USC Men’s Water Polo Hosts MPSF Clashes With No. 6 Cal and No. 3 Stanford
October 02, 2024 | Men's Water Polo
Trojans face the Bears at 1 p.m. on Saturday and the Cardinal at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
#2 USC (11-1) vs. #6 California (8-4)
Saturday, Oct. 5 | 1 p.m. | Uytengsu Aquatics Center
Series Record: USC trails 70-71-2 (L1)
Last Meeting: CAL 10, USC 9 (Dec. 2, 2024)
STREAM | STATS
#2 USC vs. #3 Stanford (11-1)
Sunday, Oct. 6 | 1 p.m. | Uytengsu Aquatics Center
Series Record: USC leads 77-65 (W2)
Last Meeting: USC 12, STAN 11 [ot] (Sept. 21, 2024)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 2 USC stays home this week to host its first MPSF matchups of the season. The Trojans (11-1) clash with No. 6 Cal at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 5) before taking on No. 3 Stanford at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 6) — all at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
RANKINGS
USC started the 2024 season ranked No. 4 in the national preseason poll and tied at No. 3 in the preseason MPSF Coaches Poll. Currently 11-1 overall, USC ranks No. 2 in the nation for the second straight week as of the latest set of national rankings (released Oct. 2). USC spent the first three weeks of competition ranked at No. 3.
LAST ACTION
USC churned out 21 goals with 13 different Trojan scorers on the board to beat visiting No. 20 California Baptist 21-12. Two Trojans hit career highs in the win, with Stefan Brankovic and Chase Landa each scoring three goals for the Trojan cause. USC peeled out to a 4-0 lead in under three minutes as Carson Kranz, Stefan Brankovic, Robert López Duart and Luka Brnetic setting a hot early pace for the Trojans. By the end of the first frame, USC gripped a commanding 8-1 lead over the Lancers. CBU found its scoring touch in the second, however, notching five goals to match USC's five in that frame to make it a 13-6 margin for halftime. The Trojans would build a nine-goal advantage with a scoring spurt that saw Andrej Grgurevic get on the board while López Duart and Max Miller punched up their second goals of the night during a three-goal rally by USC. CBU got the margin to seven midway through the fourth, but that's when Landa stepped up and scored three goals in a three-minute span for the Trojans — his third of the game making it a 21-12 USC lead. USC had three goalies report for duty in the win, with Bernardo Herzer in the cage for the first half before giving way to Eric Hubner for the third period and Charles Mills in the fourth.
NOTABLE:
- With 13 scorers, USC recorded its ninth game of the year with at least 10 different scorers.
- With his three goals scored in three minutes today, Chase Landa set his new career high.
- With three goals, Stefan Brankovic matched his career high.
- Brankovic has scored at least one goal in USC's last eight straight games.
- With two goals, Robert López Duart continues to lead USC in scoring, now with 25 goals.
- López Duart also continues to lead the Trojans in multiple-goal outings, now with eight this year.
- With two goals, Max Miller recorded his seventh multiple-goal game of the season.
- Brankovic, López Duart, Miller and Jack Martin have each now scored in 11 of USC's 12 games so far this season.
BY THE NUMBERS
Twelve games into the season, Robert López Duart and Max Miller currently spearhead USC's scoring charge, with 25 and 22 goals tallied, respectively. López Duart leads the crew with eight multiple-goal outings to date. He, MIller, Stefan Brankovic and Jack Martin have each scored at least once in 11 of USC's 12 games so far. The Trojans' assists leader is Brankovic with 12, and on the steals front Bernardo Herzer has 13 and López Duart has 12. Miller and fellow two-meter man Martin have combined for 33 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 24 through 12 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Bernardo Herzer capping up in nine games, redshirt junior Eric Hubner making four appearances and redshirt freshman Charles Mills checking in for five games. Herzer has set the season's high mark with his career-high 16-save outing vs. Stanford. All told, USC's goalkeeping corps is averaging 8.8 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 197-113 for an average of 16.4 goals per game offensively and 9.4 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in four periods of regulation play.
ROBERT MAKES HIS MPSF MARK
USC not only grabbed four wins in its first weekend of work in 2024, the Trojans also got on the board with the first MPSF Newcomer of the Week award of the season. A new face on the Trojan roster this year, sophomore transfer Robert López Duart secured the selection after serving up nine goals for USC at the Triton Invitational. López Duart was USC's top scorer at the event last weekend, where his nine goals helped the Trojans go 4-0. His first goal as a Trojan came in a two-goal outing versus No. 10 Long Beach State, netting an early 3-2 lead in an eventual 14-6 win. He had two steals and three drawn exclusions in that season-opening victory as well. López Duart scored once in limited playing time during USC's 20-6 win over Cal State Fullerton, and then set his USC high mark with a four-goal outburst along with two assists against No. 8 UC Davis in an 18-12 win. He'd end the event with two goals in USC's 21-6 win over Westcliff.
SWEEPS WEEK
USC men's water polo made it an MPSF awards sweep on Sept. 16 after a winning home stand that saw the Trojans tack up three victories at Uytengsu Aquatics Center to improve to 7-0 on the year. For their impact play across USC's weekend wins, Max Miller was named MPSF West Player of the Week while Robert López Duart earned his second MPSF West Newcomer of the Week honor. Miller crossed the 100-goal threshold during the first game of USC's winning three-game home stand, pinning up a team-high three goals in a 15-11 win over No. 9 UC Irvine to get to 101 career goals. The next day, Miller served up a team-high three goals again — all in the first half — during USC's 16-7 victory over No. 4 Pepperdine to keep USC undefeated at 7-0 on the year. Miller also drew three exclusions in the win over the Waves. In a 21-9 win over Whittier, Miller drew two exclusions, having earned one exclusion to go with his three goals vs. the Anteaters that same day. Miller now holds 104 career goals as a Trojan. López Duart stands as USC's top scorer this season, now with 13 goals after scoring twice in the Trojans' over UC Irvine and twice in the victory over Pepperdine. That gave him a team-leading five multiple-goal games this season for USC, which is now 7-0 overall with USC's three home wins over the weekend. Also against UCI, López Duart recorded two steals and a field block. He also had two steals in USC's win over the Waves — with one drawn ejection in those two games as well.
THAT'S THREE
Three weeks into his career as a Trojan, Robert López Duart collected his third set of MPSF West Newcomer of the Week honors after another powerful weekend of work. López Duart led USC with 10 goals scored at the Overnght MPSF Invitational, setting his USC career high with a five-goal outing — including the game-winner — in a 12-11 overtime win over No. 2 Stanford. In USC's 13-12 overtime win over No. 10 Long Beach State, López Duart scored a team-high three goals and had two assists. He also scored once in USC's win over UC Davis and once in a loss to No. 1 UCLA in the title match. López Duart still stands as USC's top scorer so far this season, now with 25 goals scored.
CENTURY CLUBBIN'
In USC's home opener, two Trojans hit the 100-goal mark during the same period of play. In their second season as team captains and fifth seasons of work as Trojans, Carson Kranz and Max Miller each nailed their 100th career goals. With his second goal of the game, Miller tallied his 100th to get USC a 7-5 lead over UC Irvine. Exactly four minutes later, Kranz drilled a 5-meter penalty shot to also notch his 100th. The pair are now on an elite list of 46 Trojans to have scored 100 goals in their USC careers.
BACK FOR MORE
USC returns five players who scored 20 or more goals last year to account for almost half of USC's scoring. That includes three returning All-Americans in Zach Bettino and captains Carson Kranz and Max Miller, while USC also boasts an All-American goalie in Bernardo Herzer. USC's "senior" class is sizable, as Kranz and Miller enter their fifth seasons along with fellow veterans Tom McGuire and Reed Stemler along with true seniors Luka Brnetic, Jake Carter, Eric Hubner and Aidan Wattson.
SHARPSHOOTERS
Firepower is far from a concern for these balanced Trojans. On the perimeter, the right side is taken care of with lefties Zach Bettino and Jack Vort along with right-handed attackers like Stefan Brankovic, Jake Carter and Andrej Grgurevic, who also shines as a master of the counterattack. Opposite them, Trojan fans will enjoy the USC debut of Robert López Duart and the rise of Luke Nelson, while key returners Carson Kranz, Tom McGuire, Aidan Wattson and Evan Ausmus boast the ability to strike from anywhere in the pool, and redshirt freshman Chase Landa is also set to factor into USC's offensive machine.
FIRE IN THE HOLE
The two-meter slot will be a busy one, as USC has strength, depth and skill at both ends. Senior hole guard Luka Brnetic, who trained with the Croatian National Team last summer, is tabbed as a cornerstone of Pintaric's defensive scheme along with fellow seniors Connor Cohen and Reed Stemler. Sophomore Spencer Averitt brings back his intensity to that spot as well to bring extra depth in the hole. Offensively, USC's top scorer in 2024, Max Miller, is back for year five of work in the center position. Junior Zac Crenshaw returns as well to bring size and experience to USC's two-meter attack, while Jack Martin is cued up for his Trojan debut as a proven force and a deft left hand in front of the cage.
CAGE FIGHTERS
Speaking of defense, the backbone sits between the pipes, where Bernardo Herzer emerged with All-American honors in his first season of work for the Trojans. His talented fellow goalies Eric Hubner and Charles Mills battled injuries last season, but both put forth ferocious stands in goal while healthy. All signs are pointing toward a reliable corps in the cage in 2024, with that trio back for more along with incoming freshman goalie Nemo Pavoggi.
NEW CREW
Three not-so-secret weapons — Stefan Brankovic, Jack Martin and Robert López Duart — are officially capped up for the first time as Trojans in 2024. Brankovic and Martin sat out their first season at USC and are now raring to go. López Duart brought his All-American accolades collected as a freshman at Long Beach State over to USC last spring. Three true freshmen round out the 2024 USC roster with the additions of goalie Nemo Pavoggi along with driver Taj Whitehead and utility Ben Mirisch.
PINTA'S PROGRAM
Marko Pintaric, who has been part of 14 NCAA championships during his 23 years on the USC coaching staff, is in his sixth year at the helm of the Trojan men's program. Last season, he guided the Trojans to a 19th consecutive NCAA appearance, reaching the NCAA final for the 18th time in that span after also winning a second straight MPSF Tournament title. 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.
LAST SEASON
USC's 2023 season saw the Trojans repeat as the MPSF Tournament champions in order to clinch a 19th straight trip to the NCAA tourney. Host of the 2023 NCAA even, USC reached the semifinals and fell in a one-goal loss to eventual champion Cal to finish 16-7 overall. At season's end, USC had five players earn ACWPC All-America honors led by first-time First Team pick Max Miller. USC also had Massimo Di Martire and Carson Kranz earn spots on the Second Team, while Zach Bettino and Bernardo Herzer earned Honorable Mention in their first seasons of work as Trojans.
THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California is the undeniable, unequaled and unquestioned top destination for student-athletes. USC is both home to 136 national team championships and one of the top-ranked private research institutions in the world. Located in the heart of the thriving Los Angeles metropolitan area, it is situated in one of the most diverse and visible media markets in the world. USC's campus is driving distance from the beautiful beaches of Southern California, the majestic mountains range of the Sierra Nevada, the sprawling splendor of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the mysterious Mojave Desert. The student-athlete experience at USC is truly unmatched. •
Saturday, Oct. 5 | 1 p.m. | Uytengsu Aquatics Center
Series Record: USC trails 70-71-2 (L1)
Last Meeting: CAL 10, USC 9 (Dec. 2, 2024)
STREAM | STATS
#2 USC vs. #3 Stanford (11-1)
Sunday, Oct. 6 | 1 p.m. | Uytengsu Aquatics Center
Series Record: USC leads 77-65 (W2)
Last Meeting: USC 12, STAN 11 [ot] (Sept. 21, 2024)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 2 USC stays home this week to host its first MPSF matchups of the season. The Trojans (11-1) clash with No. 6 Cal at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 5) before taking on No. 3 Stanford at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 6) — all at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
RANKINGS
USC started the 2024 season ranked No. 4 in the national preseason poll and tied at No. 3 in the preseason MPSF Coaches Poll. Currently 11-1 overall, USC ranks No. 2 in the nation for the second straight week as of the latest set of national rankings (released Oct. 2). USC spent the first three weeks of competition ranked at No. 3.
LAST ACTION
USC churned out 21 goals with 13 different Trojan scorers on the board to beat visiting No. 20 California Baptist 21-12. Two Trojans hit career highs in the win, with Stefan Brankovic and Chase Landa each scoring three goals for the Trojan cause. USC peeled out to a 4-0 lead in under three minutes as Carson Kranz, Stefan Brankovic, Robert López Duart and Luka Brnetic setting a hot early pace for the Trojans. By the end of the first frame, USC gripped a commanding 8-1 lead over the Lancers. CBU found its scoring touch in the second, however, notching five goals to match USC's five in that frame to make it a 13-6 margin for halftime. The Trojans would build a nine-goal advantage with a scoring spurt that saw Andrej Grgurevic get on the board while López Duart and Max Miller punched up their second goals of the night during a three-goal rally by USC. CBU got the margin to seven midway through the fourth, but that's when Landa stepped up and scored three goals in a three-minute span for the Trojans — his third of the game making it a 21-12 USC lead. USC had three goalies report for duty in the win, with Bernardo Herzer in the cage for the first half before giving way to Eric Hubner for the third period and Charles Mills in the fourth.
NOTABLE:
- With 13 scorers, USC recorded its ninth game of the year with at least 10 different scorers.
- With his three goals scored in three minutes today, Chase Landa set his new career high.
- With three goals, Stefan Brankovic matched his career high.
- Brankovic has scored at least one goal in USC's last eight straight games.
- With two goals, Robert López Duart continues to lead USC in scoring, now with 25 goals.
- López Duart also continues to lead the Trojans in multiple-goal outings, now with eight this year.
- With two goals, Max Miller recorded his seventh multiple-goal game of the season.
- Brankovic, López Duart, Miller and Jack Martin have each now scored in 11 of USC's 12 games so far this season.
BY THE NUMBERS
Twelve games into the season, Robert López Duart and Max Miller currently spearhead USC's scoring charge, with 25 and 22 goals tallied, respectively. López Duart leads the crew with eight multiple-goal outings to date. He, MIller, Stefan Brankovic and Jack Martin have each scored at least once in 11 of USC's 12 games so far. The Trojans' assists leader is Brankovic with 12, and on the steals front Bernardo Herzer has 13 and López Duart has 12. Miller and fellow two-meter man Martin have combined for 33 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 24 through 12 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Bernardo Herzer capping up in nine games, redshirt junior Eric Hubner making four appearances and redshirt freshman Charles Mills checking in for five games. Herzer has set the season's high mark with his career-high 16-save outing vs. Stanford. All told, USC's goalkeeping corps is averaging 8.8 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 197-113 for an average of 16.4 goals per game offensively and 9.4 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in four periods of regulation play.
ROBERT MAKES HIS MPSF MARK
USC not only grabbed four wins in its first weekend of work in 2024, the Trojans also got on the board with the first MPSF Newcomer of the Week award of the season. A new face on the Trojan roster this year, sophomore transfer Robert López Duart secured the selection after serving up nine goals for USC at the Triton Invitational. López Duart was USC's top scorer at the event last weekend, where his nine goals helped the Trojans go 4-0. His first goal as a Trojan came in a two-goal outing versus No. 10 Long Beach State, netting an early 3-2 lead in an eventual 14-6 win. He had two steals and three drawn exclusions in that season-opening victory as well. López Duart scored once in limited playing time during USC's 20-6 win over Cal State Fullerton, and then set his USC high mark with a four-goal outburst along with two assists against No. 8 UC Davis in an 18-12 win. He'd end the event with two goals in USC's 21-6 win over Westcliff.
SWEEPS WEEK
USC men's water polo made it an MPSF awards sweep on Sept. 16 after a winning home stand that saw the Trojans tack up three victories at Uytengsu Aquatics Center to improve to 7-0 on the year. For their impact play across USC's weekend wins, Max Miller was named MPSF West Player of the Week while Robert López Duart earned his second MPSF West Newcomer of the Week honor. Miller crossed the 100-goal threshold during the first game of USC's winning three-game home stand, pinning up a team-high three goals in a 15-11 win over No. 9 UC Irvine to get to 101 career goals. The next day, Miller served up a team-high three goals again — all in the first half — during USC's 16-7 victory over No. 4 Pepperdine to keep USC undefeated at 7-0 on the year. Miller also drew three exclusions in the win over the Waves. In a 21-9 win over Whittier, Miller drew two exclusions, having earned one exclusion to go with his three goals vs. the Anteaters that same day. Miller now holds 104 career goals as a Trojan. López Duart stands as USC's top scorer this season, now with 13 goals after scoring twice in the Trojans' over UC Irvine and twice in the victory over Pepperdine. That gave him a team-leading five multiple-goal games this season for USC, which is now 7-0 overall with USC's three home wins over the weekend. Also against UCI, López Duart recorded two steals and a field block. He also had two steals in USC's win over the Waves — with one drawn ejection in those two games as well.
THAT'S THREE
Three weeks into his career as a Trojan, Robert López Duart collected his third set of MPSF West Newcomer of the Week honors after another powerful weekend of work. López Duart led USC with 10 goals scored at the Overnght MPSF Invitational, setting his USC career high with a five-goal outing — including the game-winner — in a 12-11 overtime win over No. 2 Stanford. In USC's 13-12 overtime win over No. 10 Long Beach State, López Duart scored a team-high three goals and had two assists. He also scored once in USC's win over UC Davis and once in a loss to No. 1 UCLA in the title match. López Duart still stands as USC's top scorer so far this season, now with 25 goals scored.
CENTURY CLUBBIN'
In USC's home opener, two Trojans hit the 100-goal mark during the same period of play. In their second season as team captains and fifth seasons of work as Trojans, Carson Kranz and Max Miller each nailed their 100th career goals. With his second goal of the game, Miller tallied his 100th to get USC a 7-5 lead over UC Irvine. Exactly four minutes later, Kranz drilled a 5-meter penalty shot to also notch his 100th. The pair are now on an elite list of 46 Trojans to have scored 100 goals in their USC careers.
BACK FOR MORE
USC returns five players who scored 20 or more goals last year to account for almost half of USC's scoring. That includes three returning All-Americans in Zach Bettino and captains Carson Kranz and Max Miller, while USC also boasts an All-American goalie in Bernardo Herzer. USC's "senior" class is sizable, as Kranz and Miller enter their fifth seasons along with fellow veterans Tom McGuire and Reed Stemler along with true seniors Luka Brnetic, Jake Carter, Eric Hubner and Aidan Wattson.
SHARPSHOOTERS
Firepower is far from a concern for these balanced Trojans. On the perimeter, the right side is taken care of with lefties Zach Bettino and Jack Vort along with right-handed attackers like Stefan Brankovic, Jake Carter and Andrej Grgurevic, who also shines as a master of the counterattack. Opposite them, Trojan fans will enjoy the USC debut of Robert López Duart and the rise of Luke Nelson, while key returners Carson Kranz, Tom McGuire, Aidan Wattson and Evan Ausmus boast the ability to strike from anywhere in the pool, and redshirt freshman Chase Landa is also set to factor into USC's offensive machine.
FIRE IN THE HOLE
The two-meter slot will be a busy one, as USC has strength, depth and skill at both ends. Senior hole guard Luka Brnetic, who trained with the Croatian National Team last summer, is tabbed as a cornerstone of Pintaric's defensive scheme along with fellow seniors Connor Cohen and Reed Stemler. Sophomore Spencer Averitt brings back his intensity to that spot as well to bring extra depth in the hole. Offensively, USC's top scorer in 2024, Max Miller, is back for year five of work in the center position. Junior Zac Crenshaw returns as well to bring size and experience to USC's two-meter attack, while Jack Martin is cued up for his Trojan debut as a proven force and a deft left hand in front of the cage.
CAGE FIGHTERS
Speaking of defense, the backbone sits between the pipes, where Bernardo Herzer emerged with All-American honors in his first season of work for the Trojans. His talented fellow goalies Eric Hubner and Charles Mills battled injuries last season, but both put forth ferocious stands in goal while healthy. All signs are pointing toward a reliable corps in the cage in 2024, with that trio back for more along with incoming freshman goalie Nemo Pavoggi.
NEW CREW
Three not-so-secret weapons — Stefan Brankovic, Jack Martin and Robert López Duart — are officially capped up for the first time as Trojans in 2024. Brankovic and Martin sat out their first season at USC and are now raring to go. López Duart brought his All-American accolades collected as a freshman at Long Beach State over to USC last spring. Three true freshmen round out the 2024 USC roster with the additions of goalie Nemo Pavoggi along with driver Taj Whitehead and utility Ben Mirisch.
PINTA'S PROGRAM
Marko Pintaric, who has been part of 14 NCAA championships during his 23 years on the USC coaching staff, is in his sixth year at the helm of the Trojan men's program. Last season, he guided the Trojans to a 19th consecutive NCAA appearance, reaching the NCAA final for the 18th time in that span after also winning a second straight MPSF Tournament title. 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.
LAST SEASON
USC's 2023 season saw the Trojans repeat as the MPSF Tournament champions in order to clinch a 19th straight trip to the NCAA tourney. Host of the 2023 NCAA even, USC reached the semifinals and fell in a one-goal loss to eventual champion Cal to finish 16-7 overall. At season's end, USC had five players earn ACWPC All-America honors led by first-time First Team pick Max Miller. USC also had Massimo Di Martire and Carson Kranz earn spots on the Second Team, while Zach Bettino and Bernardo Herzer earned Honorable Mention in their first seasons of work as Trojans.
THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California is the undeniable, unequaled and unquestioned top destination for student-athletes. USC is both home to 136 national team championships and one of the top-ranked private research institutions in the world. Located in the heart of the thriving Los Angeles metropolitan area, it is situated in one of the most diverse and visible media markets in the world. USC's campus is driving distance from the beautiful beaches of Southern California, the majestic mountains range of the Sierra Nevada, the sprawling splendor of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the mysterious Mojave Desert. The student-athlete experience at USC is truly unmatched. •
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Saturday, November 18
Men’s Water Polo - USC 20, Augustana 4 : Highlights (11/17/23)
Friday, November 17
