USC
Pacific
No. 2 USC Water Polo Advances To Triton Invite Semis
September 06, 2008 | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 6, 2008
2008 TRITON INVITATIONAL RESULTS
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. -- The No. 2 USC men's water polo team kicked of its 2008 campaign in powerful form, generating 38 goals in the first two games of the year on the hands of 18 different Trojans and behind a stingy defense that allowed just four total goals on the day. Playing at UC San Diego's Triton Invitational, USC opened with a 28-2 win over Claremont before continuing group play with a 10-2 victory over Pacific. The tourney semifinals are next for the Trojans (2-0), as they face Loyola Marymount at 10:20 a.m. on Sunday (Sept. 7).
Leading the Trojans in scoring against Claremont were two players with hat tricks. Juniors Nico Sardo and Shea Buckner both tallied three goals to lead an aggressively balanced USC scoring onslaught. Seven different Trojans punched in a pair, with another eight getting to the back of the net before game's end. USC opened up an 8-0 lead before Claremont was able to get a score through in the second period. Again USC would streak ahead, going up 15-1 before another Claremont score came before halftime. The USC defense pitched a shutout the rest of the way, while the offense plunged farther ahead to score the next 13 straight goals. Five Trojans secured their first career goals at USC, as newcomers Kevin May, Elliott Samuels, Peter Kurzeka, Cem Carak and Matthew Burton all grabbed goals in their first outing as Trojans.
In the second game of the day, USC's offense opened up with similar power. The Trojans took another 8-0 lead, shutting out Pacific for the first three periods of play. Eight different players scored in that one, with Kurzeka and Jovan Vranes leading the way with two goals each.
USC had three goalies see time in the cage during the day. Against Claremont, senior Ben Weil played the first two periods with redshirt freshman Tyler McManigal coming for the second half. Against Pacific, newcomer Joel Dennerley set up camp in the cage for the first three quarters - joining McManigal with perfect, scoreless outings in their first action as Trojans.
GAME 1
USC 28, Claremont 2
C 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 -- 2
USC 8 - 8 - 6 - 6 -- 28
SCORING:
USC -- Shea Buckner 3, Nico Sardo 3, Kevin May 2, Matt Sagehorn 2, Kyle Sterling 2, Devon Borisoff 2, Jovan Vranes 2, Elliott Samuels 2, Ryan Cummins 2, Justin Rappel, J.W. Krumpholz, Peter Kurzeka, Cem Carak, Garrett Hayes, Arjan Ligtenberg, Jordan Thompson, Matthew Burton.
C -- Stephen Andron 2.
SAVES: Ben Weil (USC) 2, Tyler McManigal (USC) 4.
GAME 2
USC 10, Pacific 2
PAC 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 -- 2
USC 4 - 1 - 3 - 2 -- 10
SCORING:
USC -- Peter Kurzeka 2, Jovan Vranes 2, Justin Rappel, Anthony Artukovich, Kevin May, Shea Buckner, Arjan Ligtenberg, Elliott Samuels.
PAC -- Shane Mahoney, Will Milcovich.
SAVES: Joel Dennerley (USC) 10, Ben Weil (USC) 2.
