Sunday, October 21
Los Angeles, CA
1:00 PM
USC
17
vs
6
Pepperdine
Players Mentioned
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
2M
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
2M
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
2M
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
Marko Vavic Hits 100 As No. 1 USC Tops No. 6 Pepperdine 17-6
October 21, 2018 | Men's Water Polo, Features
Sophomore’s 100th goal comes in a powerful Trojan victory in home waters.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — The No. 1 USC men's water polo team whipped up a seven-goal surge to put visiting No. 6 Pepperdine out of reach in another solid home victory for the Trojans. Along the way, sophomore Marko Vavic notched his 100th career goal as a Trojan. Vavic was one of five Trojans with two goals today, helping USC improve to 24-1 overall on the year.
Freshman Jake Ehrhardt lit the lamp first in this one, going solo for a blast that got USC an early advantage. Sophomore Jacob Mercep would nab back-to-back steals on the defensive end, the second of which prompted an opportunistic Mercep to launch a shot from well past half-tank for an impressive goal that got USC a 2-0 lead. Pepperdine fired right back with a quick strike at the post to get on the board, but that's when the Trojans clicked into high gear. Two Trojan goals in the final minute of the first frame would light the fuse on a seven-goal rally. Sawyer Rhodes would score twice in the run, while Matt Maier, Marko Vavic, Sam Slobodien and Marin Dasic all tallied their first goals of the game as USC ballooned its lead to 9-1. USC freshman goalie Sam Krutonog made two strong saves in the final stretch of the first half, surrendering just a late 5-meter penalty shot from Pepperdine for a 9-2 halftime lead.
The Waves found their scoring touch in opening the second half with back-to-back goals to make it 9-4, but USC soon regained control of things. Hannes Daube would serve up the assist on Vavic's second goal of the day and 100th of his career to make it 10-4, then also made the pass to Zach D'Sa for a rocket that made it 11-4. And after Luka Karaman's shot caromed off the post, Danny Leong was there for the rebound and the finish to net a 12-4 USC lead entering the final period of play. There, Krutonog would give way to sophomore goalie Vaios Vlahotasios in the cage. The Waves would manage two goals in that next eight-minute stretch while the Trojans piled on five more. Slobodien struck his second to make it 13-4 early in the fourth. Later, freshman Alexander Lansill zipped in back-to-back goals, and then Orestis Apergi and Troy Furniss would issue the final goals of the game for the Trojan cause to round out the final 17-6 USC win.
Next weekend, USC will host Alumni Games for its women's and men's programs on Saturday (Oct. 27). The women's Alumni Game is set for 9 a.m., with the men's game at 10 a.m. During the event, the Trojans will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the program's first-ever national championship, won by the 1998 men's team. On Sunday (Oct. 28), the USC men will host Pacific at 1 p.m. in nonfonference action at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
#1 USC 17, #6 Pepperdine 6
Oct. 21, 2018 | Uytengsu Aquatics Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
USC 4 - 5 - 3 - 5 = 17
PEP 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 = 6
SCORING:
USC — Jacob Mercep 2, Sawyer Rhodes 2, Marko Vavic 2, Sam Slobodien 2, Alexander Lansill 2, Jake Ehrhardt, Matt Maier, Marin Dasic, Zach D'Sa, Danny Leong, Orestis Apergi, Troy Furniss.
PEP — Sean Ferrari 2, Balazs Kosa, Chris Dilworth, Michael Dakis, Sam Paur.
SAVES: Sam Krutonog (USC) 7 [3 periods], Vaios Vlahotasios (USC) 3 [4th period], John Claude Marco (PEP) 3 [1st half], Kyle McKenney (PEP) 5 [2nd half].
Freshman Jake Ehrhardt lit the lamp first in this one, going solo for a blast that got USC an early advantage. Sophomore Jacob Mercep would nab back-to-back steals on the defensive end, the second of which prompted an opportunistic Mercep to launch a shot from well past half-tank for an impressive goal that got USC a 2-0 lead. Pepperdine fired right back with a quick strike at the post to get on the board, but that's when the Trojans clicked into high gear. Two Trojan goals in the final minute of the first frame would light the fuse on a seven-goal rally. Sawyer Rhodes would score twice in the run, while Matt Maier, Marko Vavic, Sam Slobodien and Marin Dasic all tallied their first goals of the game as USC ballooned its lead to 9-1. USC freshman goalie Sam Krutonog made two strong saves in the final stretch of the first half, surrendering just a late 5-meter penalty shot from Pepperdine for a 9-2 halftime lead.
The Waves found their scoring touch in opening the second half with back-to-back goals to make it 9-4, but USC soon regained control of things. Hannes Daube would serve up the assist on Vavic's second goal of the day and 100th of his career to make it 10-4, then also made the pass to Zach D'Sa for a rocket that made it 11-4. And after Luka Karaman's shot caromed off the post, Danny Leong was there for the rebound and the finish to net a 12-4 USC lead entering the final period of play. There, Krutonog would give way to sophomore goalie Vaios Vlahotasios in the cage. The Waves would manage two goals in that next eight-minute stretch while the Trojans piled on five more. Slobodien struck his second to make it 13-4 early in the fourth. Later, freshman Alexander Lansill zipped in back-to-back goals, and then Orestis Apergi and Troy Furniss would issue the final goals of the game for the Trojan cause to round out the final 17-6 USC win.
Next weekend, USC will host Alumni Games for its women's and men's programs on Saturday (Oct. 27). The women's Alumni Game is set for 9 a.m., with the men's game at 10 a.m. During the event, the Trojans will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the program's first-ever national championship, won by the 1998 men's team. On Sunday (Oct. 28), the USC men will host Pacific at 1 p.m. in nonfonference action at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
#1 USC 17, #6 Pepperdine 6
Oct. 21, 2018 | Uytengsu Aquatics Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
USC 4 - 5 - 3 - 5 = 17
PEP 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 = 6
SCORING:
USC — Jacob Mercep 2, Sawyer Rhodes 2, Marko Vavic 2, Sam Slobodien 2, Alexander Lansill 2, Jake Ehrhardt, Matt Maier, Marin Dasic, Zach D'Sa, Danny Leong, Orestis Apergi, Troy Furniss.
PEP — Sean Ferrari 2, Balazs Kosa, Chris Dilworth, Michael Dakis, Sam Paur.
SAVES: Sam Krutonog (USC) 7 [3 periods], Vaios Vlahotasios (USC) 3 [4th period], John Claude Marco (PEP) 3 [1st half], Kyle McKenney (PEP) 5 [2nd half].
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