Saturday, October 14
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Photo by: Stewart McGuire
No. 4 USC Men’s Water Polo Will Battle The Bruins In Rivalry Clash In Westwood
October 11, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
Trojans visit top-ranked USC at 1 p.m. on Saturday in a key MPSF meeting.
#4 USC (10-4, 0-3) at #1 UCLA (17-0, 3-0)
1 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 14 | Spieker Aquatic Center (Westwood, Calif.)
Series Record: USC leads 78-68-1 (L1)
Last Meeting: UCLA 14, USC 10 [Sept. 23, 2023]
TV: Pac-12 Los Angeles (Play-by-play: Jim Watson)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 4 USC turns to competition closer to home this week, paying a visit to crosstown rival UCLA for their first MPSF meeting of the season. The Trojans (10-4, 0-3 MPSF) and No. 1 Bruins (17-0, 3-0) square off in a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday (Oct. 14) at Spieker Aquatics Center. The game will be televised on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Jim Watson on the call.
RANKINGS
USC started the 2023 season ranked No. 2 in the national preseason poll and tied at No. 2 in the preseason MPSF Coaches Poll. Currently 10-4 overall, USC is ranked No. 4 in the nation as of the latest set of national rankings (released Oct. 11). after spending four weeks at No. 3
LAST ACTION
USC went on the road for back-to-back MPSF matchups last week and fell just short, taking a one-goal loss in overtime at Stanford and then falling in another one-goal defeat at Cal.
#5 Stanford 14, #3 USC 13 (OT)
A defensive first half saw the teams level at 3-3 for halftime before the next stretch featured cranked-up offense on both ends. USC and Stanford went goal-for-goal to open the third, with Tom McGuire blasting an equalizer off a feed from Di Martire to make it 4-4. Di Martire would scored USC's next two, and it was even at 6-6 with 2:03 on the clock in the third. Stanford would strike twice in the last 34 seconds of the frame, though, claiming its largest lead to that point with an 8-6 advantage entering the fourth. There, the Cardinal kept clicking, making it a four-goal surge to put USC in a 10-6 hole with 5:34 left in regulation. That turned out to be plenty of time for the Trojans to find a new gear. A three-goal USC rally featuring blasts from Zach Bettino, Brnetic and Joshua Waldoch clipped the Cardinal advantage down to one. Stanford would convert a 6-on-5 next, as Brnetic picked up his third, going up 11-9 with 3:16 on the clock. A Bernardo Herzer save was a key boost for the Trojan cause at 1:52, and then Carson Kranz plugging in a 6-on-5 score to get USC one back in the final minute of regulation. A takeaway from Andrej Grgurevic sent USC back on the attack. After a timeout, USC opted to set up for a 7-on-6 look, with Bettino flipping a pass to McGuire, who found Kranz for a sizzling finish to make it 11-11 with just one second to go. That brought up overtime for the second time between USC and Stanford. This time, however, USC's OT fortunes came up just short. Stanford struck twice in the first OT around a score out of set from Tony Nardelli. In the second OT, Herzer hit Waldoch for a big blast — his third of the day — that knotted it at 13-13. But a third Stanford 5-meter penalty shot soon followed, and the Cardinal were back on top at 14-13. Two big Herzer saves kept hopes alive for the Trojans, who would get their last look with a 6-on-5 opportunity in the waning moments. A Stanford save put a stop to things, preserving the 14-13 win for the Cardinal.
NOTABLE:
- With three goals, JR Luka Brnetic matched his career high.
- With 10 saves, RS FR Bernardo Herzer recorded his fourth double-digit save outing.
- RS JR Joshua Waldoch scored a hat trick for the second straight game.
- USC is now 75-65 all-time against Stanford, which beat the Trojans for the first time since 2020 with today's decision.
#2 Cal 10, #3 USC 9
A rematch on the same stage as last year's NCAA Championship game, the Trojans and Golden Bears were in battle mode again. USC drummed up the first goals of the day with Luka Brnetic and Massimo Di Martire striking in the first two minutes of action. Cal converted on back-to-back power plays to level it, only to see USC first back as Tom McGuire earned a 6-on-5 for USC. Carson Kranz found Max Miller for the slam at the post, and then Kranz finished off a one-on-one look to take the Trojans ahead 4-2. Jake Carter squashed Cal's next power play with a field block, and USC was in good position going into the second. Early in that next frame, Miller earned the exclusion for USC, and Brnetic crossed to Zach Bettino for a nearside blast that had USC ahead 5-2. USC had an answer for Cal's next two goals, with Tony Nardelli striking out of set and Jake Carter issuing a rocket blast on a 6-on-5 to carry USC ahead 7-4 for halftime. The Trojans would follow a Cal score with a Kranz counter strike to get USC's lead back to three next. The Bears' defense stiffened from there, however, and USC was unable to get to the back of the next for an excruciatingly long stretch. Cal, meanwhile, would fin four straight goals, taking its first lead of the day with a 6-on-5 finish that made it 9-8 Bears with 4:49 to go in the fourth. For the second time in the half, USC would have an apparent 6-on-5 goal called off to negate a USC opportunity to equalize. Cal got some padding with another goal at 1:23, with Kranz having the last word and breaking USC's silence with his third of the day to make it 10-9 Cal with just six seconds to go.
NOTABLE:
- With three goals, SR Carson Kranz matched his career high.
- With their goals, GS Massimo Di Martire and SR Max Miller continue to lead USC in scoring this season with 26 goals each.
- Di Martire leads the team with goals scored in 13 different games this season.
- USC is now 69-70-2 all-time against Cal, with losses in the last six meetings.
BY THE NUMBERS
Max Miller and Massimo Di Martire are currently spearheading USC's scoring charge with 26 goals apiece. Di Martire has scored in all 13 games in which he's played, matching with Miller in having tallied eight multiple-goal games to date. The Trojans' assists leader is senior Tom McGuire with 24, while Di Martire tops the steals board with 24. Miller and fellow two-meter man Tony Nardelli have combined for 67 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 39 through his 14 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Bernardo Herzer capping up in 10 games and redshirt sophomore Eric Hubner checking for six. In their respective USC debuts, Herzer (12 saves vs. Pomona-Pitzer) and freshman Charles Mills (13 saves vs. Biola) set career highs. All told, USC's goalkeeping corps is averaging 9.9 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 188-122 for an average of 13.4 goals per game offensively and 8.7 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in 12 periods of regulation play.
MPSF TO THE MAX
USC capped off a sizable home stretch with a decisive win over visiting No. 10 Pacific, led by senior Max Miller's four-goal outburst. For his efforts, Miller was named MPSF Player of the Week for the first time in his Trojan career with his pick on Oct. 2. Miller scored USC's first three goals of the game in an eventual 16-6 win over the Tigers. The victory avenged last year's road loss at Pacific thanks to a well-rounded USC effort, led by Miller's four goals to go along with a drawn exclusion and steal by the senior. He was 4-of-5 shooting in the USC win. Miller is the first Trojan to win the award since 2021. He was an MPSF Newcomer of the Week selection as a freshman in 2020.
BETTINO ON THE BOARD
Freshman Zach Bettino captured his first official award as a Trojan in being selected MPSF Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 25 following a clutch performance at the Overnght/MPSF Invitational. Bettino scored the game-winning goal in overtime and finished with a career-high four goals to help USC beat No. 4 Stanford 13-12 in the third-place game on Sunday. Before that game, Bettino's season best had been two-goal outings, making this game a breakout for the freshman, who also had five assists at the tournament. Against the Cardinal, he was 4-of-6 shooting and dealt out an assist and a steal. Bettino is the first Trojan to pick up weekly honors from the conference this season, and is the 12th USC player to earn the award since it began in 2016. He is now fifth on the team in scoring this season with 15 goals.
BACK FOR MORE
USC returns over half of its 2022 NCAA roster, including All-American and MPSF Newcomer of the Year Massimo Di Martire, who led the Trojans in scoring with 63 goals in the 2022 season — seven of those goals scored in the NCAA Tournament. Senior captain Carson Kranz and junior Luka Brnetic also return as All-MPSF honorees, with Kranz and Max Miller tabbed as team captains for 2023. Brnetic and Reed Stemler are seasoned hole guards ready to shut down any moves at two-meters. In front of the cage as well will be senior captain Miller and Tony Nardelli, each bringing valuable experience in their fourth years as centers. Newcomer Connor Cohen and sophomore Zac Crenshaw also add size and power to that spot for the Trojans. Back in the water for his sophomore season, Andrej Grgurevic spent his summer playing with the Australian Junior National Team. Grgurevic scored 21 goals as a true freshman last season.
STRIKE FORCE
With the graduation of some powerful left-handed shooters, sophomore Jack Vort, freshman Zach Bettino and redshirt freshman Charlie Saunders are ready to step up on the 4-6 side, joined by righties Di Martire and Jake Carter, who are proven sharpshooters on that side of the pool. Working on the 1-2 side is a group of guys making an impact with their utility and speed on both sides of the pool in returners Evan Ausmus, Tom McGuire, Joshua Waldoch and Aidan Wattson.
CAGE FIGHTERS
The Trojans' goalie squad is ripe with skill and size, with 6-foot-7 Eric Hubner bringing upperclassman experience and 6-6 Bernardo Herzer coming off a redshirt year. Incoming freshman goalies Charles Mills and Cooper Mathisrud further bolster USC in the cage as the group competes for playing time as the backbone of the Trojan defense.
NEW CREW
The balance of the 2023 USC squad is rounded out by new additions to the roster. Stanford transfer Jack Martin and Serbian newcomer Stefan Brankovic are raising the level of competition in practice for the younger additions of Spencer Averitt, Chase Landa, Luke Nelson and Will Sanchez. Each player on the roster has an opportunity to make an impact on the way to NCAAs.
PINTA'S PROGRAM
Marko Pintaric, who has been part of 14 NCAA championships during his 21 years on the USC coaching staff, is in his fifth year at the helm of the Trojan men's program. Last season, he guided the Trojans to an 18th consecutive NCAA appearance, reaching the NCAA final for the 17th time in that span. An All-American and 1998 NCAA champion as a player at USC, Pintaric served as co-head coach for the USC men for three seasons (2016-18), most recently helping the Trojans to the 2018 NCAA Championship. His USC coaching career began as an assistant coach to both the USC men and women in 2001. Pintaric stayed in a dual coaching role until NCAA rules for coaching staff sizes changed in 2015-16, prompting a move to a scouting director role with the women while his assistant coaching role continued with the men for the next four years.
LAST SEASON
USC's 2022 campaign saw the Trojans win the MPSF Tournament championship in order to clinch an 18th straight trip to the NCAA tourney. USC finished up undefeated at home and posted a 20-7 overall record after a run to the NCAA title match, where USC fell in a one-goal loss to host Cal. At season's end, USC had four players earn ACWPC All-America honors in First Team picks Jake Ehrhardt, Massimo Di Martire and Ashworth Molthen along with second-team selection Kyle McKenney. Ehrhardt also was picked as a finalist for the 2022 Peter J. Cutino Award. •
1 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 14 | Spieker Aquatic Center (Westwood, Calif.)
Series Record: USC leads 78-68-1 (L1)
Last Meeting: UCLA 14, USC 10 [Sept. 23, 2023]
TV: Pac-12 Los Angeles (Play-by-play: Jim Watson)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 4 USC turns to competition closer to home this week, paying a visit to crosstown rival UCLA for their first MPSF meeting of the season. The Trojans (10-4, 0-3 MPSF) and No. 1 Bruins (17-0, 3-0) square off in a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday (Oct. 14) at Spieker Aquatics Center. The game will be televised on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Jim Watson on the call.
RANKINGS
USC started the 2023 season ranked No. 2 in the national preseason poll and tied at No. 2 in the preseason MPSF Coaches Poll. Currently 10-4 overall, USC is ranked No. 4 in the nation as of the latest set of national rankings (released Oct. 11). after spending four weeks at No. 3
LAST ACTION
USC went on the road for back-to-back MPSF matchups last week and fell just short, taking a one-goal loss in overtime at Stanford and then falling in another one-goal defeat at Cal.
#5 Stanford 14, #3 USC 13 (OT)
A defensive first half saw the teams level at 3-3 for halftime before the next stretch featured cranked-up offense on both ends. USC and Stanford went goal-for-goal to open the third, with Tom McGuire blasting an equalizer off a feed from Di Martire to make it 4-4. Di Martire would scored USC's next two, and it was even at 6-6 with 2:03 on the clock in the third. Stanford would strike twice in the last 34 seconds of the frame, though, claiming its largest lead to that point with an 8-6 advantage entering the fourth. There, the Cardinal kept clicking, making it a four-goal surge to put USC in a 10-6 hole with 5:34 left in regulation. That turned out to be plenty of time for the Trojans to find a new gear. A three-goal USC rally featuring blasts from Zach Bettino, Brnetic and Joshua Waldoch clipped the Cardinal advantage down to one. Stanford would convert a 6-on-5 next, as Brnetic picked up his third, going up 11-9 with 3:16 on the clock. A Bernardo Herzer save was a key boost for the Trojan cause at 1:52, and then Carson Kranz plugging in a 6-on-5 score to get USC one back in the final minute of regulation. A takeaway from Andrej Grgurevic sent USC back on the attack. After a timeout, USC opted to set up for a 7-on-6 look, with Bettino flipping a pass to McGuire, who found Kranz for a sizzling finish to make it 11-11 with just one second to go. That brought up overtime for the second time between USC and Stanford. This time, however, USC's OT fortunes came up just short. Stanford struck twice in the first OT around a score out of set from Tony Nardelli. In the second OT, Herzer hit Waldoch for a big blast — his third of the day — that knotted it at 13-13. But a third Stanford 5-meter penalty shot soon followed, and the Cardinal were back on top at 14-13. Two big Herzer saves kept hopes alive for the Trojans, who would get their last look with a 6-on-5 opportunity in the waning moments. A Stanford save put a stop to things, preserving the 14-13 win for the Cardinal.
NOTABLE:
- With three goals, JR Luka Brnetic matched his career high.
- With 10 saves, RS FR Bernardo Herzer recorded his fourth double-digit save outing.
- RS JR Joshua Waldoch scored a hat trick for the second straight game.
- USC is now 75-65 all-time against Stanford, which beat the Trojans for the first time since 2020 with today's decision.
#2 Cal 10, #3 USC 9
A rematch on the same stage as last year's NCAA Championship game, the Trojans and Golden Bears were in battle mode again. USC drummed up the first goals of the day with Luka Brnetic and Massimo Di Martire striking in the first two minutes of action. Cal converted on back-to-back power plays to level it, only to see USC first back as Tom McGuire earned a 6-on-5 for USC. Carson Kranz found Max Miller for the slam at the post, and then Kranz finished off a one-on-one look to take the Trojans ahead 4-2. Jake Carter squashed Cal's next power play with a field block, and USC was in good position going into the second. Early in that next frame, Miller earned the exclusion for USC, and Brnetic crossed to Zach Bettino for a nearside blast that had USC ahead 5-2. USC had an answer for Cal's next two goals, with Tony Nardelli striking out of set and Jake Carter issuing a rocket blast on a 6-on-5 to carry USC ahead 7-4 for halftime. The Trojans would follow a Cal score with a Kranz counter strike to get USC's lead back to three next. The Bears' defense stiffened from there, however, and USC was unable to get to the back of the next for an excruciatingly long stretch. Cal, meanwhile, would fin four straight goals, taking its first lead of the day with a 6-on-5 finish that made it 9-8 Bears with 4:49 to go in the fourth. For the second time in the half, USC would have an apparent 6-on-5 goal called off to negate a USC opportunity to equalize. Cal got some padding with another goal at 1:23, with Kranz having the last word and breaking USC's silence with his third of the day to make it 10-9 Cal with just six seconds to go.
NOTABLE:
- With three goals, SR Carson Kranz matched his career high.
- With their goals, GS Massimo Di Martire and SR Max Miller continue to lead USC in scoring this season with 26 goals each.
- Di Martire leads the team with goals scored in 13 different games this season.
- USC is now 69-70-2 all-time against Cal, with losses in the last six meetings.
BY THE NUMBERS
Max Miller and Massimo Di Martire are currently spearheading USC's scoring charge with 26 goals apiece. Di Martire has scored in all 13 games in which he's played, matching with Miller in having tallied eight multiple-goal games to date. The Trojans' assists leader is senior Tom McGuire with 24, while Di Martire tops the steals board with 24. Miller and fellow two-meter man Tony Nardelli have combined for 67 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 39 through his 14 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Bernardo Herzer capping up in 10 games and redshirt sophomore Eric Hubner checking for six. In their respective USC debuts, Herzer (12 saves vs. Pomona-Pitzer) and freshman Charles Mills (13 saves vs. Biola) set career highs. All told, USC's goalkeeping corps is averaging 9.9 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 188-122 for an average of 13.4 goals per game offensively and 8.7 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in 12 periods of regulation play.
MPSF TO THE MAX
USC capped off a sizable home stretch with a decisive win over visiting No. 10 Pacific, led by senior Max Miller's four-goal outburst. For his efforts, Miller was named MPSF Player of the Week for the first time in his Trojan career with his pick on Oct. 2. Miller scored USC's first three goals of the game in an eventual 16-6 win over the Tigers. The victory avenged last year's road loss at Pacific thanks to a well-rounded USC effort, led by Miller's four goals to go along with a drawn exclusion and steal by the senior. He was 4-of-5 shooting in the USC win. Miller is the first Trojan to win the award since 2021. He was an MPSF Newcomer of the Week selection as a freshman in 2020.
BETTINO ON THE BOARD
Freshman Zach Bettino captured his first official award as a Trojan in being selected MPSF Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 25 following a clutch performance at the Overnght/MPSF Invitational. Bettino scored the game-winning goal in overtime and finished with a career-high four goals to help USC beat No. 4 Stanford 13-12 in the third-place game on Sunday. Before that game, Bettino's season best had been two-goal outings, making this game a breakout for the freshman, who also had five assists at the tournament. Against the Cardinal, he was 4-of-6 shooting and dealt out an assist and a steal. Bettino is the first Trojan to pick up weekly honors from the conference this season, and is the 12th USC player to earn the award since it began in 2016. He is now fifth on the team in scoring this season with 15 goals.
BACK FOR MORE
USC returns over half of its 2022 NCAA roster, including All-American and MPSF Newcomer of the Year Massimo Di Martire, who led the Trojans in scoring with 63 goals in the 2022 season — seven of those goals scored in the NCAA Tournament. Senior captain Carson Kranz and junior Luka Brnetic also return as All-MPSF honorees, with Kranz and Max Miller tabbed as team captains for 2023. Brnetic and Reed Stemler are seasoned hole guards ready to shut down any moves at two-meters. In front of the cage as well will be senior captain Miller and Tony Nardelli, each bringing valuable experience in their fourth years as centers. Newcomer Connor Cohen and sophomore Zac Crenshaw also add size and power to that spot for the Trojans. Back in the water for his sophomore season, Andrej Grgurevic spent his summer playing with the Australian Junior National Team. Grgurevic scored 21 goals as a true freshman last season.
STRIKE FORCE
With the graduation of some powerful left-handed shooters, sophomore Jack Vort, freshman Zach Bettino and redshirt freshman Charlie Saunders are ready to step up on the 4-6 side, joined by righties Di Martire and Jake Carter, who are proven sharpshooters on that side of the pool. Working on the 1-2 side is a group of guys making an impact with their utility and speed on both sides of the pool in returners Evan Ausmus, Tom McGuire, Joshua Waldoch and Aidan Wattson.
CAGE FIGHTERS
The Trojans' goalie squad is ripe with skill and size, with 6-foot-7 Eric Hubner bringing upperclassman experience and 6-6 Bernardo Herzer coming off a redshirt year. Incoming freshman goalies Charles Mills and Cooper Mathisrud further bolster USC in the cage as the group competes for playing time as the backbone of the Trojan defense.
NEW CREW
The balance of the 2023 USC squad is rounded out by new additions to the roster. Stanford transfer Jack Martin and Serbian newcomer Stefan Brankovic are raising the level of competition in practice for the younger additions of Spencer Averitt, Chase Landa, Luke Nelson and Will Sanchez. Each player on the roster has an opportunity to make an impact on the way to NCAAs.
PINTA'S PROGRAM
Marko Pintaric, who has been part of 14 NCAA championships during his 21 years on the USC coaching staff, is in his fifth year at the helm of the Trojan men's program. Last season, he guided the Trojans to an 18th consecutive NCAA appearance, reaching the NCAA final for the 17th time in that span. An All-American and 1998 NCAA champion as a player at USC, Pintaric served as co-head coach for the USC men for three seasons (2016-18), most recently helping the Trojans to the 2018 NCAA Championship. His USC coaching career began as an assistant coach to both the USC men and women in 2001. Pintaric stayed in a dual coaching role until NCAA rules for coaching staff sizes changed in 2015-16, prompting a move to a scouting director role with the women while his assistant coaching role continued with the men for the next four years.
LAST SEASON
USC's 2022 campaign saw the Trojans win the MPSF Tournament championship in order to clinch an 18th straight trip to the NCAA tourney. USC finished up undefeated at home and posted a 20-7 overall record after a run to the NCAA title match, where USC fell in a one-goal loss to host Cal. At season's end, USC had four players earn ACWPC All-America honors in First Team picks Jake Ehrhardt, Massimo Di Martire and Ashworth Molthen along with second-team selection Kyle McKenney. Ehrhardt also was picked as a finalist for the 2022 Peter J. Cutino Award. •
Carson Kranz: Trojans Live 11.25.24
Monday, November 25
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Monday, September 23
Men's Water Polo - USC 13, UCLA 9: Highlights (11/18/23)
Saturday, November 18
Men’s Water Polo - USC 20, Augustana 4 : Highlights (11/17/23)
Friday, November 17
