Mihailo Vukazic Blasts Eight Goals For No. 2 USC Men’s Water Polo In 13-8 Win At UC Irvine

Saturday, September 13

Irvine, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

USC

7-0

UC Irvine

6-2

Southern California

UC Irvine

Mihailo Vukazic gives thumbs up during a game at Uytengsu Aquatics Center

Photo by: John McGillen

Mihailo Vukazic Blasts Eight Goals For No. 2 USC Men’s Water Polo In 13-8 Win At UC Irvine

September 13, 2025 | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

USC newcomer sets a new career high for himself with the second most goals scored by a Trojan in a single game.

IRVING, CALIF. — The No. 2 USC men's water polo team got an explosive effort from Mihailo Vukazić to help secure a 13-8 road win at No. 8 UC Irvine today, with the newcomer rattling in eight goals for the Trojan cause. It was a career high for the grad student, who had six of USC's seven goals at halftime. His eight-goal outburst marked the second most goals scored in a single game by a Trojan. USC is now 7-0 overall with the win over the Anteaters.

Vukazić set the course to his career day early, firing off the first three goals of the game. UC Irvine got on the board with a bar-in blast five minutes into the action, only to see Vukazić notch a field block on the defensive end before hammering home his fourth soon after. The Anteaters got another even score to go next, and it was 4-2 after eight minutes of play. UC Irvine's only goals in the second period came on 5-meter penalty shots, while USC freshman Gavin Conant tallied USC's fifth goal of the game with a 6-on-5 finish off a feed from Vukazić. In the final 1:30 of the half, Vukazić sandwiched one of those UCI penalty shots with to booming blasts of his own, and it was 7-4 USC at the break.

The third frame saw the Anteaters creep to within one midway through the period. At 7-6, USC responded with a sizzling strike from Robert López Duart. Evan Ausmus and Luke Nelson each nabbed steals on defense, and then Vukazić went on a solo mission for his seventh goal and a 9-6 USC advantage. The Trojans held court in the fourth as three new Trojans joined the scoresheet with impressive goals. Stefan Branković had a finishing slam at the post, and Strahinja Krstić ripped in a 6-on-5 finish for the Trojan to make it 11-7 with 3:17 to go. After a Bernardo Herzer save — one of his 11 on the day — Vukazić hit his eighth goal with another ripper of a 5-meter penalty shot to go up 12-7. The last word of the day came from Zac Crenshaw with a nifty finish that topped off the game as a 13-8 USC victory.

NEXT: USC next turns to action at the Mountain Pacific Invitational, running Sept. 19-21 at USC and UCLA. The Trojans will open with a 12 p.m. game on Friday (Sept. 19) at Uytengsu Aquatics Center, with the rest of the matchups and schedule to be determined.

NOTABLE:
- With eight goals scored today, GS Mihailo Vukazić set a new career high and recorded the second most goals ever scored by a Trojan in a single game.
- Vukazić's previous career high was seven goals — also scored vs. UC Irvine, while he was playing with Pacific last season.
- Vukazić's eight goals were the most by a Trojan since Jack Martin scored eight last season vs. Austin College on Nov. 22
- With 11 saves today, RS JR Bernardo Herzer recorded double-digit saves for the second consecutive game.
- Herzer now has recorded 428 career saves, ranking No. 11 all-time among USC goalies.
- With their goals today, Robert López Duart (one goal) and Vukazić (eight) have scored in all seven USC games this season.
- USC is now 87-23 all-time against UC Irvine, with wins in the past 39 meetings.
- This was USC's third consecutive game scoring a total of 13 goals.

#2 USC 13, #8 UC Irvine 8
Saturday, Sept. 13 | Anteater Aquatics Complex (Irvine, Calif.)
USC 4 - 3 - 2 - 4 = 13
UCI 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 8

SCORING:
USC — Mihailo Vukazić 8, Gavin Conant, Robert López Duart, Stefan Branković, Strahinja Krstić, Zac Crenshaw.
UCI — Luka Krstic 3, Wyley Dale, Cole Francisco, Gage Verdegaal, Jack Stevens, Johann Thrall.

SAVES: Bernardo Herzer (USC) 11, Zayd Mahmoud (UCI) 8.