No. 3 USC Men’s Water Polo Takes Down No. 1 UCLA On The Road

Saturday, October 18

Los Angeles, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

USC

15-2

UCLA

18-1

USC (M)

UCLA (M)

Photo by: Bryce Dechert

No. 3 USC Men’s Water Polo Takes Down No. 1 UCLA On The Road

October 18, 2025 | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

The Trojans hand the Bruins their first loss of a season in a 13-12 comeback victory

WESTWOOD - In a rematch of last year's NCAA National Championship game, the third-ranked USC men's water polo team (15-2) scored a game-winning goal in the final minute to upset No. 1 UCLA (18-1) at the Spieker Aquatics Center on Saturday, Oct. 18.

UCLA, the defending NCAA national champions, came into the game having won 21 straight games, dating back to last season. They opened the scoring before senior Mihailo Vukazić tied the game at 1 with a rocket down off the crossbar. After two Bruin goals, junior Robert López Duart scored to make it 3-2. Senior Jack Vort and Vukazić bagged goals to close out the first quarter tied 4-4. UCLA scored twice to begin the second quarter but USC responded with three goals to close the half from freshman Efe Naipoglu, junior Luke Nelson and Vukazic to secure his first half hat trick and a 7-6 USC lead at halftime.

In the second half, UCLA tied the game up seven, but senior Andrej Grgurevic and freshman Strahinja Krstic put the Trojans back up by two. The Bruins again responded to tie the game at 10 before Naipoglu and senior Connor Cohen scored to close the period with USC ahead 12-10.

Both defenses and goalies clamped down in the fourth quarter. UCLA goalie Nate Tauscher had 13 saves, many of which coming in the final quarter to deny the Trojan offense. The Bruins scored on the power play and got the equalizer with just over a minute to go to make it 12-12. But, senior Jack Martin ripped a shot past Tauscher off a Vukazić assist to put USC ahead with 46 seconds to go. The Trojans defense stood tall on the final possession to hang on for the 13-12 upset win.

Vukazic led the Trojans in goals and assists with three apiece, while López Duart and Naipoglu each scored twice. Both Vukazić and López Duart have scored in every game so far this season for the Trojans. It was the 12th multigoal game for López Duart, tenth for Vukazic and fourth for Naipoglu

The Trojans split time in the cage, with Charles Mills playing the whole first half and Bernando Herzer playing the whole second. Each goalie allowed six goals and racked up three saves, including a penalty save for Mills in the first quarter.

USC will continue MPSF play by hosting No. 2 Cal on Nov. 1 and No. 3 Stanford on Nov. 2. The Trojans have beaten the Cardinal twice this season, but their only losses were courtesy of the Golden Bears. Both games will take place at the Uytengsu Aquatic Center at 1:00pm and will be streamed through overnght.com.