No. 3 USC Men’s Water Polo Powers Up To Beat No. 7 Princeton
Trojans make a 5-0 run to take control in the second half at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
In a defensive first half that featured 10 saves by Princeton's goalie, USC got out to a 3-1 advantage on goals from Max Miller, Jack Vort and Carson Kranz, only to see the Tigers bite back and even it up 3-3 for halftime. Princeton earned its first lead with a 6-on-5 finish to open the third, but that's when the Trojans found their groove. Grgurevic gave USC a spark with a fine finish off a feed from Kranz, striking just 11 seconds after the Tigers took their short-lived lead. Vort found Connor Cohen for a rocket that got USC ahead 5-4, although the Tigers pulled even a couple minutes later on a power play.
Herzer squashed Princeton's next power play chance, and Robert López Duart nabbed a steal soon after to help bolster the Trojan defense. Jack Martin unleashed the go-ahead goal for USC with 1:18 left in the third, and then López Duart got the ball back once again. He'd hit Grgurevic for a 6-on-5 strike next, and USC was up 7-5 entering the fourth. Goals kept coming for the Trojans to the tune of three more blasts — Grgurevic's third. Followed by a sizzler from lefty Zach Bettino. Evan Ausmus came up with an interception on the defensive end next, and Luka Brnetic fed López Duart for rocket to make it 10-5 Trojans with 4:18 to go. Princeton carved the deficit down with two goals in a minute's span, but the Tigers could get no closer as USC emerged with the 10-7 victory.
NEXT:
USC now turns to host the Crosstown Splashdown in a battle with rival UCLA at 1 p.m on Saturday (Oct. 19). Prior to the game, USC will honor its nine graduating Trojans in a Senior Day ceremony.
NOTABLE:
- With a game-high three goals, Andrej Grgurevic matched his career high.
- With one goal today, Robert López Duart continues to lead USC in scoring this season, now with 34 goals.
- With their goals, López Duart and Max Miller have each now scored in 16 of USC's 17 games so far this season.
- López Duart and Miller also have each scored at least one goal in USC's last 11 straight games.
#3 USC 10, #7 Princeton 7
Oct. 16, 2024 | Uytengsu Aquatics Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
USC 2 - 1 - 4 - 3 = 10
PRI 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 7
SCORING:
USC — Andrej Grgurevic 3, Max Miller, Jack Vort, Carson Kranz, Connor Cohen, Jack Martin, Zach Bettino, Robert López Duart.
PRI — Logan McCarroll 2, Enrique Nuño, Luke Johnston, Roko Pozaric, Tas Palcza, Gavin Appeldorn.
SAVES: Bernardo Herzer (USC) 9, Kristóf Kovács (PRI) 16.