USC
UCLA*
No. 5 UCLA Defeats No. 1 USC In MPSF Showdown
October 26, 2003 | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 26, 2003
LOS ANGELES -- Peter Belden scored the game-winning goal with eight seconds left in the first overtime period to lead fifth-ranked UCLA (12-4, 4-0 MPSF) to a 6-5 overtime win over top-ranked USC (14-3) in front of a packed house at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center.
UCLA jumped out to a 3-0 lead after only four minutes of play when David Pietsch, Michael March and Chris Pulido each scored in the first frame. However, the Bruins would be held scoreless for the next 20 minutes of action as the Trojans chipped away at the UCLA lead. USC scored once in each of the first three quarters to even the score heading into the final frame.
James Shin gave the Trojans their first lead of the day when he found the back of the net only 34 seconds into the fourth period. He would post his second goal of the game less than a minute later to give USC a 5-3 advantage. However, back-to-back goals from Josh Hewko and Brett Ormsby would even the score and send the teams into overtime.
Goalkeeper Joe Axelrad put together another strong performance in the cage, allowing only five goals in 34 minutes of action while posting nine saves. Trojan Bozidar Damjanovic also had nine saves on the day.
USC concludes MPSF play next weekend with home matches against Long Beach State on Saturday (Nov. 1) at 1:30 p.m. and UC Irvine on Sunday (Nov. 2) at noon. Both matches will take place at McDonald's Swim Stadium.
1-2-3-4-OT=Final USC 1-1-1-2-0=5 UCLA 3-0-0-2-1=6 USC - Shin (2), Zatovic (2), Hadar UCLA - Ormsby, Belden, Pietsch, Hewko, Pulido, March Goalkeepers -USC -Damjanovic (9 saves, 6 GA A), UCLA - Axelrad (9 saves, 5 GA A)
