No. 2 USC Men’s Water Claims 21-12 Win Over No. 20 CBU

LOS ANGELES — The No. 2 USC men's water polo team churned out 21 goals with 13 different Trojan scorers on the board to beat visiting No. 20 California Baptist 21-12 today at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. Two Trojans hit career highs in the win, with Stefan Brankovic and Chase Landa each scoring three goals for the Trojan cause. USC improves to 11-1 overall with the victory in home waters.

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 today, 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 today, Stefan Brankovic matched his career high.
- Brankovic has scored at least one goal in USC's last eight straight games.
- With two goals today, 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 today, 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.

NEXT:
USC stays home next week to host its first MPSF matchups of the season. The Trojans clash with Cal at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 5) before taking on Stanford at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 6) — all at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.

#2 USC 21, #20 California Baptist 12
Sept. 27, 2024 | Uytengsu Aquatics Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
USC 8 - 5 - 5 - 3 = 21
CBU 1 - 5 - 4 - 2 = 12

SCORING:
USC — Stefan Brankovic 3, Chase Landa 3, Carson Kranz 2, Robert López Duart 2, Jake Carter 2, Max Miller 2, Luka Brnetic, Luke Nelson, Zach Bettino, Jack Martin, Connor Cohen, Andrej Grgurevic, Reed Stemler.
CBU — Bohdi Bowden 4, Andrea Nuzzo 3, Toring Stanley 2, Caleb Teraoka, Logan Puhl, Paulo Hernandez.

SAVES: Bernardo Herzer (USC) 3 [1st half], Eric Hubner (USC) 0 [3rd period), Charles Mills (USC) 1 [4th period], William Whitstone (CBU) 2, Trevor Alamilo (CBU) 0, Trent De Leuuw (CBU) 3 [3rd period].