USC
UCLA (Championship)
No. 2 USC Takes Second At SoCal Invitational
October 11, 2015 | Men's Water Polo
MALIBU, CALIF. — The No. 2 USC men's water polo team staged a ferocious fourth-frame comeback effort to level things late in the game, but it was No. 1 UCLA that had the final word to win the 2015 Kap7 SoCal Invitational championship with a 10-9 decision over the Trojans. USC had won the previous three titles at the tourney and got close to capturing a fourth before the Bruins found the late winner today in Malibu, Calif. It's the first time all season that the Trojans have surrendered 10 goals in a game, and USC goes to 15-2 overall with just its second loss of the year.
USC opened up the game hot, pinning up three straight scores from the hands of Bryce Hoerman, Grant Stein and Chase Koplow. The Bruins shook off the early warning shot, however, and staged a four-goal surge that stole back the lead with UCLA up 4-3 during the second period of play. Lachlan Edwards would rip off the equalizer for the Trojans next, only to see UCLA piece together another powerful rally. The Bruins would manufacture yet another four-goal blitz to put USC in an 8-4 whole midway through the third period. Stein's second goal of the game snapped the run and made it 8-5 entering the fourth frame.
The Trojans got back in a scoring mode from there, firing in back-to-back goals for the first time since the first frame. Matteo Morelli gave USC a boost and the Nick Bell delivered to cut it to a one-goal game, down 8-7 with 4:55 left to play. UCLA broke through with another 6-on-5 strike next to make it 9-7 Bruins, but Blake Edwards came up big with his first goal of the day to nudge USC back within reach, down 9-8 with two minutes remaining. As time continued to drain, Stein busted out his third goal of the game to level things at 9-9 and crank up the intensity in the final minute. With just 15 seconds left, though, UCLA cracked the Trojan defense one more time with a go-ahead goal to make it 10-9, and the Bruins would be able to hold on in the final stretch to tally the win over USC.
The Trojans will now turn back to MPSF play next week, as USC hosts Pepperdine in a 12 p.m. matchup on Saturday (Nov. 17) at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in an effort to keep the Trojans' undefeated conference record intact.
KAP7 SOCAL INVITATIONAL (Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool • Malibu, Calif.)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#1 UCLA 10, #2 USC 9
Oct. 11, 2015 - Malibu, Calif.
USC 3 - 1 - 1 - 4 = 9
UCLA 2 - 2 - 4 - 2 = 10
SCORING:
USC — Grant Stein 3, Bryce Hoerman, Chase Koplow, Lachlan Edwards, Matteo Morelli, Nick Bell, Blake Edwards.
UCLA — Roberts 4, Daboub 4, Snyder, Woepse.
SAVES: McQuin Baron (USC) 8, Danner (UCLA) 9.
Players Mentioned
