USC
Loyola Marymount
No. 1 USC Defeats No. 6 LMU 11-4
October 24, 2009 | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - The No. 1 ranked USC men's water polo team beat No. 6 LMU Saturday 11-4, extending its home winning streak to 37 straight. The Trojans scored on three of their first four possessions on the afternoon. USC's Shea Buckner and Matt Sagehorn led the way with a pair of hat tricks improving the team's overall record to 18-1.
J.W. Krumpholz helped USC gain the early lead with his punishing work inside, which led to consecutive 5-meter penalty shots converted by Shea Buckner. USC's Peter Kurzeka added to the scoring with an unassisted goal. The Lions countered on Max Schlegel's 6-on-5 goal, closing the deficit to 3-1. The Trojans added one more on Matt Sagehorn's goal with just seconds to play in the first.
The second period was a defensive struggle early for the Trojans. LMU goalie Andy Stevens quieted USC's offensive attack with four saves in the second. But USC's Matthew Burton took advantage of an errant outlet pass from Stevens and connected with Matt Sagehorn for the goal. Minutes later Justin Rappel found Kyle Sterling, extending the Trojans lead 6-1. LMU's Tibor Forai punched in the second 6-on-5 goal to chip into the Trojans' 6-2 advantage. Kurzeka jumped on another Stevens outlet pass and drove it all the way in for the score to close out the second period.
In the third, the Trojans added to their lead on a pass from Rappel to Buckner. Sagehorn then scored on a breakaway to make it 9-2. USC goalie Joel Dennerley blanked the Lions in the third on his way to a four-save day. Will Simon took over goal tending duties in the fourth for the Trojans, recording four saves. LMU's Andrew Aki scored two goals in the period. But USC had answers for each with goals from Rappel and Brian Boswell late in the game to round out an 11-4 win for the Trojans.
USC's next competition will be at UC Santa Barbara Thursday (Oct. 29) at 4 p.m. in another MPSF match up. The Trojans have beaten the Gauchos twice this year.
#1 USC 11, #6 LMU 4USC 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 = 11
LMU 1 - 1 - 0 - 2 = 4
SCORING: USC - Shea Buckner 3, Matt Sagehorn 3, Peter Kurzeka 2, Justin Rappel, Kyle Sterling, Brian Boswell. LMU - Andrew Aki 2, Max Schlegel, Tibor Forai.
SAVES: Joel Dennerley (USC) 4, Will Simon (USC) 4, Andy Stevens (LMU) 9.
Players Mentioned
