No. 2 Seed USC Men’s Water Polo Sticks Spot In NCAA Semis With 17-13 Win Over CBU

STANFORD, CALIF. — The No. 2 seeded USC men's water polo team erased an early deficit and churned out a 17-13 comeback win to beat California Baptist in today's NCAA quarterfinals at the National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship in Stanford, Calif. The Trojans got three straight goals from senior captain Carson Kranz in the second period to take a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way, improving to 22-5 overall and securing USC's 20th NCAA semifinal in its 20th straight trips to the tournament.

The Lancers showed no fear early on, putting USC in a 3-0 hole out of the gates before Jack Vort broke the Trojans' silence with a 6-on-5 strike. That sparked a run by USC, with Max Miller and Vort punching up back-to-back blasts to pull USC level at 3-3. The Trojans would have to play catchup for the next couple minutes as CBU edged ahead 4-3 and 5-3 during the second. But that's when Kranz stepped in. He'd deliver the equalizer and then get USC its first lead with a rebound finish with 1:55 on the clock. After an Andrej Grgurevic steal, Tom McGuire found Kranz for his third and a 7-5 lead that stood for halftime. 

Goals came fast and furious in the third. The Lancers made it a one-goal margin on their first possession of the second half, only to see USC rattle off three straight scores — from Miller, López Duart and Jack Martin — to build a 10-6 advantage. CBU would get no closer than three goals away from the Trojans the rest of the way, and USC was up 14-10 entering the fourth after López Duart and Kranz each tacked up their fourth goals of the day. USC manufactured another three-goal surge during the fourth as Vort, Miller and Martin each hit their hat trick, and USC would emerge with the final 17-13 win for that coveted ticket to the NCAA semis.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE MEN'S WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP

NCAA QUARTERFINAL
[2] USC 17, California Baptist 13
Friday, Dec. 6 | Avery Aquatic Center (Stanford, Calif.)
USC   1 - 6 - 7 - 3 = 17
CBU   3 - 2 - 5 - 3 = 13

SCORING:
USC — Robert López Duart 4, Carson Kranz 4, Max Miller 3, Jack Vort 3, Jack Martin 3.
CBU — Toring Stanley 3, Logan Puha 3, Alex Righetti 2, Caleb Teraoka 2, Bodhi Bowden, Marcus Lodewyk, Rafa Martinez.

SAVES: Bernardo Herzer (USC) 7, William Whitstone (CBU) 13. 

NEXT:
No. 2 seeded USC moves on to the NCAA Semifinals tomorrow (Dec. 7), facing either Fordham or Long Beach State at 4 p.m. at Avery Aquatic Center in Stanford, Calif.

NOTABLE:
- USC is through to the NCAA Semifinals for the 20th time in 20 straight trips to the NCAA tourney.
- With three goals today, Max Miller has now scored in a team-best 25 of USC's 27 games so far this season.
- Miller now has 143 career goals, ranking him tied at No. 17 all-time in career scoring at USC.
- Miller also has now scored at least one goal in USC's last seven games.
- With three goals today, Carson Kranz now has 131 career goals, ranking him tied at No. 25 all-time in career scoring at USC
- With four goals today, Robert López Duart continues to lead USC in multiple-goal outings, now with 18 this season.
- With three goals today, Jack Vort tied his career high.