USC
UCLA
Trojans Take Down Bruins In SoCal Semi
October 11, 2009 | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 11, 2009
IRVINE, CALIF. - The No. 3 USC men's water polo team avenged an earlier semifinal loss to crosstown rival UCLA with a 9-8 victory in today's semifinal game at the UCI Invitational. The Trojans edged out the No. 2 Bruins when Shea Buckner converted a 5-meter penalty shot with 1:49 to go in regulation, as USC went up 9-8 in the game to secure a place in this afternoon's championship game. USC faces No. 4 California at 5:20 p.m. at UC Irvine for a shot at winning the Trojans' seventh consecutive SoCal tournament title. USC improves to 15-1 overall with the semifinal win.
In today's semifinal clash with UCLA, the Trojans jumped out to a 4-1 lead on scores from Peter Kurzeka, Matt Burton, Justin Rappel and Kyle Sterling. UCLA answered right back, however, equalizing after a late score in the first period made it 4-2 and then pulling even on early second-period goals. USC would end the Bruin run with a goal from Anthony Artukovich, but UCLA had the last word in the half and managed a late goal that locked things back up at 5-5 going into the second half.
USC forced its way back on top with another Rappel goal and then a Shea Buckner strike that made it 7-5 USC midway through the third period. UCLA cut the advantage to one again with a 6-on-5 score to put USC up 7-6 entering the fourth. Early in that final frame, UCLA evened things once again with a score at 6:11. Rappel would blast his third of the day two minutes later for another USC slim lead, but the Bruins earned a 6-on-5 and finished it off at 3:15 to make it an 8-8 lockup. With 1:49 to go, USC earned a 5-meter penalty shot. Buckner lined up to take the strike, and plugged it into the back of the net to jump ahead again with USC on top 9-8. That score would stand in the Trojans' favor, as USC pocketed the win and a place in this afternoon's title match against Cal.
2009 UCI INVITATIONAL
Semifinal - Oct. 11
#3 USC 9, #2 UCLA 8
USC 4 - 1 - 2 - 2 = 9
UCLA 2 - 3 - 1 - 2 = 8
SCORING:
USC -- Justin Rappel 3, Shea Buckner 2, Peter Kurzeka, Anthony Artukovich, Matthew Burton, Kyle Sterling.
UCLA - Scott Davidson 3, Emilio Vieira 2, Scott Swanson, Griffin White, Cullen Hennessy.
SAVES: Joel Dennerley (USC) 5, Chay Lapin (UCLA) 7.
Players Mentioned
