USC Overtakes California in Semifinals of MPSF Tournament
November 26, 2005 | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 26, 2005
Los Angeles, Calif. - Top-ranked USC defeated California 10-8, in the semifinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament to advance to the championship game on Sunday (Nov. 27) at USC's McDonald's Swim Stadium. Juan Delgadillo scored a personal and team season-high of six goals to lead the Trojans to victory. Delgadillo has scored at least once in every game this season. The win continues USC's 16 game win streak, with a record of 23-1 and 10-0 in MPSF play.
USC set the pace with the first goal of the game by Delgadillo two minutes into the game. California came back with two goals to wrap up the first period, putting the Golden Bears ahead by one.
The Trojans came out with a vengeance in the second period, firing off four goals, three of them during power plays, to take back the lead and move up by two. USC kept the Golden Bears at bay in the third period, exchanging two goals apiece to enter the final period with a two point advantage. The final goal of the period came during a man advantage when Delgadillo reared up and fired a shot crosscage.
The first goal of the fourth period came just 41 seconds in, by California's Kinsel. On the counterattack, the Trojans found Delgadillo who pounded the ball into the back of the net just 16 seconds after the Bear's last goal. The two teams traded goals before USC's Juraj Zatovic scored the game-winning goal on a 4-meter penalty shot with 49 seconds remaining on the clock. USC goalie Don Ricci made a strong stand for the Trojans on defense, turning away seven shots by the Bears. The Trojans were able to convert on six of their 10 power play advantages.
The Trojans return to action tomorrow in the championship game against Stanford at 3 p.m. at McDonald's Swim Stadium.
USC 1 4 2 3 -- 10
CAL 2 1 2 3 -- 8
Scoring:
USC -- Thomas Hale, Juan Delgadillo (6), Juraj Zatovic (2), Thomas Corcoran. CAL -- Brian Kinsel (3), Michael Sharf, Marty Matthies (2), Shea Buckner, John Mann.
Saves: Don Ricci (USC) 8,Nate Bennett (CAL) 6.
Other results on the day:
Game 5: UCLA def. Long Beach State (10-6)
UCLA 3 3 1 3 -- 10
LBSU 2 0 3 1 -- 6
Scoring:
UCLA -- Patrick Morrison (3),Krsto Sbutega, Justin Johnson, Tyler Krikorian, Logan Powell (2), Grant Zider, Matthew Jacobs. LBSU -- Jay Gerardi (2),Erik Geoffroy, Brett McCleave (3).
Saves: Will Didinger (UCLA) 12, Thomas Onyshiko (LBSU) 12.
Game 6: Pacific def. Pepperdine (9-8)
Pepperdine came out with a bang scoring the first goal, 30 seconds into the game and went up 3-1 by the end of the first period. Pacific did not back down, picking up two goals to tie the game up in the beginning of the second. Both teams traded goals through the third and fourth period having a tied game on five occasions. With 46 seconds left in a tied ball game Pacific stole the ball in front of their own net and lobbed it to Matt Turnbull who fired off the game-winning goal.
Pacific 1 3 1 4 -- 9
Pepperdine 3 2 1 2 -- 8
Scoring:
Pacific --Kenny Yamamoto, Clint McLaughlin (2), Dragan Bakic (3), Matt Turnbull (2), Adam Zobler. Peperdine -- Grant Miller, Adam Hewko,Doug Mann, Matt Digges, Jesse Smith (3), Dorian Beaney.
Saves: Marko Popovic (Pacific) (13),Ben Tait (Peperdine) (9) .
Game 7: USC def. California (10-8)
In an evenly matched semi-final USC set the pace with the first goal of the game by Juan Delgadillo. California came back with two goals to wrap up the first period, putting the Golden Bears ahead by one. The Trojans came out with vengeance firing off four goals in the second period to take back the lead and move up by two. USC kept the Golden Bears at bay in the third period, exchanging two goals apiece to enter the final period with a two point advantage. In the fourth period both teams traded goals before USC's Juraj Zatovic scored the game-winning goal on a 4-meter penalty with 49 seconds remaining on the clock.
USC 1 4 2 3 -- 10
CAL 2 1 2 3 -- 8
Scoring:
USC -- Thomas Hale, Juan Delgadillo (6), Juraj Zatovic (2), Thomas Corcoran. CAL -- Brian Kinsel (3), Michael Sharf, Marty Matthies (2), Shea Buckner, John Mann.
Saves: Don Ricci (USC) 8,Nate Bennett (CAL) 6.
Game 8: Stanford def. UC Irvine (11-5)
Stanford showed up with its "A" game firing off five consecutive goals in the first and beginning of the second period. UCI's first goal came with three minutes left in the second period by Dreason Barry. The Cardinal went up 8-1 in the beginning of the third quarter, the largest lead of the game. UCI fought back with three goals in the third period and one in the fourth period, but it wasn't enough to take on Stanford. Between Stanford's two goalies, Sandy Hofener and James Sandman, they boasted 15 saves to stop the Anteaters.
Stanford 3 4 2 2 -- 11
UC Irvine 0 1 3 1 -- 5
Scoring:
UC Irvine -- Nate White, Dreason Barry (2), Tim Hutten (2). Stanford -- Peter Varellas (4), Ryan Fortune, Marcello Pantuliano, William Hindle-Katel, Thomas Hopkins (2), Michael Bury (2).
Saves: Joe Wynne (UC Irvine) 5, Sandy Hofener (Stanford) 12, James Sandman (Stanford) 3.
Saturday, November 26, 200510:00 a.m.Game 5: UCLA vs. Long Beach State11:30 a.m.Game 6: Pepperdine vs. Pacific1:00 p.m. Game 7: California vs. USC2:30 p.m. Game 8: Stanford vs. UC Irvine
Sunday, November 27, 200510:00 a.m.Game 9: 7th Place Game Long Beach State vs. Pepperdine11:30 a.m.Game 10: 5th Place Game UCLA vs. Pacific1:00 p.m. Game 11: 3rd Place Game California vs UC Irvine3:00 p.m. Game 12: 1st Place Game USC vs. Stanford
