No. 1 USC Rolls Into MPSF Semifinals

Friday, November 24

Irvine, Calif.

10:00 AM

USC

UC Irvine (MPSF Tournament)

Thomas Hale punchedin three goals in USC's 13-2 win over UC Irvine.

No. 1 USC Rolls Into MPSF Semifinals

November 24, 2006 | Men's Water Polo

Nov. 24, 2006

IRVINE, CALIF. - The top-ranked USC men's water polo team made no mistake about cruising into the semifinals of the MPSF Tournament by dispatching host UC Irvine 13-2 on Friday morning in Irvine. The Trojans breezed out to a 4-0 lead in the match, and senior driver Thomas Hale had a hat trick by half time en route to the victory, which earns them a place against Stanford in Saturday's 1 p.m. semifinal. The Trojans are the defending MPSF and NCAA championships this year, and are now 24-0 on the year. USC's winning streak is now 43 games long.

Ten different Trojans got to the back of the net as USC posted its third and most decisive win of the season over the Anteaters. Gabor Sarusi joined Hale as the only Trojans with multiple scores in the game, while Juan Delgadillo, Jovan Vranes, J.W. Krumpholz, Pavol Valovic, Drew Vyn, Matt Sagehorn, Nico Sardo and Anthony Artukovich each fired in a goal to round out the balanced win.

After peeling out to a 4-0 lead, the top-seeded USC squad conceded one goal to the Anteaters during the second period. That score was matched by three more Trojan scores for a 7-1 lead entering halftime. USC's balanced scoring attack continued in the third. Four more goals followed for USC, while UCI grabbed one more goal - but that would be all for the Anteaters. The No. 1 defense in the nation gave up nothing further in the match. Freshmen Nico Sardo and Anthony Artukovich both notched goals for USC in the fourth quarter, and the Trojans had secured themselves a step closer to a chance at back-to-back MPSF crowns.

USC starting goalie Adam Shilling posted five saves during his time in the cage for the Trojans, and he was ably replaced by Ben Weil in the fourth period. Weil picked up three saves to help the Trojans hold the Anteaters scoreless in the final frame for the win.

No. 1 USC 13, No. 8 UC Irvine 2
USC 4 - 3 - 4 - 2 -- 13
UCI 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 2

SCORING:
UCI -- Baxter 2.
USC - Thomas Hale 3, Gabor Sarusi 2, Juan Delgadillo, Jovan Vranes, J.W. Krumpholz, Pavol Valovic, Drew Vyn, Matt Sagehorn, Nico Sardo, Anthony Artukovich.