University Southern California Trojans
USC Men's Water Polo's Strahinja Krstic Collects Fourth MPSF Newcomer Award
November 03, 2025 | Men's Water Polo
The first-year Trojan totaled five points earned on two goals and three assists in a pair of wins over top-five opponents
LOS ANGELES – For the fourth time this season, USC men's water polo freshman Strahinja Krstic (Belgrade, Serbia/Savremena Gimazija) was chosen as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's Newcomer of the Week, this time for his performance in a pair of wins the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2, the league announced on Monday, Nov. 3.
Kristic was also selected for the newcomer honor on Sept. 1, 8, and 29. While it is the fourth award for him, it is the sixth newcomer selection by a Trojan. Freshman driver Efe Naipoglu (Istanbul, Türkiye/Notre Dame de Sion French HS) was named the league's newcomer of the week twice (Oct. 6, 20).
Krstic totaled two goals and three assists for five points in a pair of USC victories this week. He also drew six exclusions for the Men of Troy. He has now scored in 17 of 19 games and has had 10 multi-goal games to rank third on the team. His five points puts him at 39 on the season. In a 12-9 win over fourth-ranked California, Krstic had a goal and two assists to go with four drawn exclusions. Against No. 3 Stanford, he scored a goal and had an assist with two drawn exclusions and a field block.
The No. 1-ranked Trojans (17-2, 4-1 MPSF) defeated No. 4 California by a 12-9 count and then took down No. 3 Stanford, 14-9, with a stunning 11-3 second-half comeback. USC has now won four in a row and holds an unblemished 5-0 mark in games at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The Trojans are back in action for a nonconference game on Saturday (Nov. 8) as host to UC Santa Barbara. The teams will meet at 1 p.m. PT and be shown live on an overnght.com stream.
For more information on the USC men's water polo team and a complete schedule and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Trojans can follow @USCWaterPolo on X and Instagram.
Kristic was also selected for the newcomer honor on Sept. 1, 8, and 29. While it is the fourth award for him, it is the sixth newcomer selection by a Trojan. Freshman driver Efe Naipoglu (Istanbul, Türkiye/Notre Dame de Sion French HS) was named the league's newcomer of the week twice (Oct. 6, 20).
Krstic totaled two goals and three assists for five points in a pair of USC victories this week. He also drew six exclusions for the Men of Troy. He has now scored in 17 of 19 games and has had 10 multi-goal games to rank third on the team. His five points puts him at 39 on the season. In a 12-9 win over fourth-ranked California, Krstic had a goal and two assists to go with four drawn exclusions. Against No. 3 Stanford, he scored a goal and had an assist with two drawn exclusions and a field block.
The No. 1-ranked Trojans (17-2, 4-1 MPSF) defeated No. 4 California by a 12-9 count and then took down No. 3 Stanford, 14-9, with a stunning 11-3 second-half comeback. USC has now won four in a row and holds an unblemished 5-0 mark in games at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The Trojans are back in action for a nonconference game on Saturday (Nov. 8) as host to UC Santa Barbara. The teams will meet at 1 p.m. PT and be shown live on an overnght.com stream.
For more information on the USC men's water polo team and a complete schedule and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Trojans can follow @USCWaterPolo on X and Instagram.
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