USC
Stanford (Semifinal)
No. 1 USC Stymies Stanford For Semifinal Spot
September 18, 2011 | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 18, 2011
STOCKTON, CALIF. - The No. 1 USC men's water polo team stacked up its biggest win over Stanford since 2008 with a powerful 12-5 victory in the semifinals of this year's NorCal Tournament. Stockton was the site of the Trojans' last big win over Stanford, who USC topped 10-3 in the 2008 tourney semis. The Trojans will now go up against either Cal or UCLA in the 2011 title match, where USC is looking to claim its second straight NorCal Tournament championship. USC takes a 4-0 record into the final.
The USC defense put up a strong stand against the Cardinal, anchored by 12 saves from goalie Joel Dennerley.With his this save of the game, Dennerley put himself in powerful position to take over a USC's all-time career saves leader, holding 673 to stand two away from the record of 675, held for 24 years by Kevin Stringer
The Trojans silenced Stanford in the first frame, taking a 4-0 lead thanks in part to a pair of goals from Brian Boswell. He, Jeremy Davie, Kosta Genidounias and Michael Rosenthal would each finish with two goals in the game. A buzzer-beater from Forest Monroe blasted the Trojans to a 10-3 lead at halftime, and USC was in the driver's seat for a cruise to the afternoon's title match.
2011 NorCal Tournament (Stockton, Calif.)
SEMIFINAL - Sept. 18
#1 USC 12, #4 Stanford 4
USC 4 - 6 - 2 - 0 = 12
STAN 0 - 3 - 1 - 1 = 5
SCORING:
USC - Brian Boswell 2, Jeremy Davie 2, Kosta Genidounias 2, Michael Rosenthal 2, Jack Plaga, Peter Kurzeka, Forest Monroe, Mace Rapsey.
STAN - Watkins, Smith, Seften, Gamble.
SAVES: Joel Dennerley (USC) 12, Ely Bonilla (USC) 0, Pingree (STAN) 6.
GAME ONE - Sept. 17
#1 USC 20, West Valley JC 3
USC 4 - 5 - 5 - 6 = 20
WVJC 2 - 1 - 0 - 0 = 3
SCORING:
USC - Kosta Genidounias 4, Jack Plaga 3, Nikola Vavic 2, Peter Kurzeka 2, Stephen Siri 2, Andrew Reego 2, Jeremy Davie, Tobias Preuss, Michael Rosenthal, Mace Rapsey, Brian Boswell.
WVJC - Bojan Hrlec, Diego Aldea, Raphael Krempp.
SAVES:
Joel Dennerley (USC) 11 [2.5 periods], Ely Bonilla (USC) 7 [1.5 periods], Meszaros (WV) 5, Maestri (WV) 3.
GAME TWO - Sept. 17
#1 USC 11, #6 UC Irvine 4
USC 1 - 1 - 4 - 5 = 11
UCI 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 4
SCORING:
Mace Rapsey 2, Jeremy Davie, Nikola Vavic, Peter Kurzeka, Forest Monroe, Stephen Siri, Michael Rosenthal, Kosta Genidounias, Brian Boswell, Jack Plaga. UCI - Alan Robertson, Mitch Wise, Nick Pfeil, Trent Baxter.
SAVES: Joel Dennerley (USC) 6, Michael Bailey (UCI) 15.
Players Mentioned
