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Photo by: Tomoki Chien
No. 3 USC Men’s Water Polo Heads North For Two Big MPSF Matchups
October 04, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
Trojans visit No. 5 Stanford on Saturday and No. 2 California on Sunday in key conference clashes.
#3 USC (10-2, 0-1) at #5 Stanford (9-4, 0-1)
Saturday, Oct. 7 | 12 p.m. | Avery Aquatic Center (Stanford, Calif.)
Series Record: USC leads 75-64 (W5)
Last Meeting: USC 13, STAN 12 (ot) [Sept. 24, 2023]
TV: Pac-12 Bay Area
STREAM | STATS
#3 USC at #2 California
Sunday, Oct. 8 | 1 p.m. | Spieker Aquatics Complex (Berkeley, Calif.)
Series Record: USC leads 69-69-2 (L5)
Last Meeting: CAL 12, USC 5 (Sept. 9, 2023)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 3 USC has a key conference road trip this weekend, paying visits to No. 5 Stanford and No. 2 California. The Trojans (10-2, 0-1 MPSF) visit the Cardinal (9-4, 0-1) for a 12 p.m. clash on Saturday (Oct. 7) in Stanford before heading up to Berkeley to take on the Golden Bears at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 8).
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 6-1 overall, USC is ranked No. 3 in the nation for the fourth straight week as of the latest set of national rankings (released Oct. 4).
LAST ACTION
USC poured out eight goals in the first period of play to create space and set its course to a final 16-10 win over visiting No. 10 Pacific. The Trojans shut out the Tigers in the third quarter for good measure, pocketing USC's 10th win of the season in improving to 10-2 overall. Max Miller had a hat trick in place before three minutes had even ticked down in the game. He'd finish out the game with a season-high four goals to pace the Trojan offense in the nonconference affair. Joshua Waldoch punched up two goals in the last 1:30 of the first frame, adding his third of the day before halftime. USC's first-period onslaught also featured blasts from Tony Nardelli, Andrej Grgurevic and Luka Brnetic to help the hosts to an 8-3 advantage just eight minutes into the action. The scoring pace slowed in the second period as defenses brought things under control, and the score stood at a 9-4 USC lead at the break. USC goalie Eric Hubner gathered in five saves in that first stretch, and gave way to Bernardo Herzer between the pipes for the second half. Herzer and the Trojan defense put up a wall in the third, shutting out the Tigers while the USC offense plugged five more goals on the board care of five different scorers. Miller's fourth lit the fuse on the attack, which saw Brnetic and Nardelli each bury their second goals of the day. Brnetic later laced a cross to Carson Kranz, who sizzled in the score to build out a 10-goal USC lead with a 14-4 advantage entering the fourth and final frame. There, USC answered two early Pacific goals with a pair by USC newcomers Spencer Averitt and Connor Cohen, who each also assisted on the other's goal to carry USC to a final 16-6 win.
NOTABLE:
- With his season-high four goals today, SR Max Miller is now USC's scoring leader this season with 25 goals.
- Miller now also leads USC with eight multiple-goal games tallied this year.
- With a goal today, GS Massimo Di Martire is even with Miller in having scored in 11 different games this season.
- USC is now 55-12 all-time against Pacific in avenging last year's loss with today's victory over the Tigers.
BY THE NUMBERS
Max Miller and Massimo Di Martire are currently spearheading USC's scoring charge with 25 and 23 goals, respectively. Those two also have each scored in a team-high 11 USC games to date. The Trojans' assists leader is senior Tom McGuire with 23, while Di Martire tops the steals board with 19. Miller and fellow two-meter man Tony Nardelli have combined for 59 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 31 through 12 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Bernardo Herzer capping up in eight 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 9.6 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 166-98 for an average of 13.8 goals per game offensively and 8.2 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in 12 periods of regulation play.
MPSF TO THE MAX
USC men's water polo 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 and now leads the Trojans in scoring with 25 goals on the year. 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. He is now third on the team in scoring this season with 13 goals. 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.
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. •
Saturday, Oct. 7 | 12 p.m. | Avery Aquatic Center (Stanford, Calif.)
Series Record: USC leads 75-64 (W5)
Last Meeting: USC 13, STAN 12 (ot) [Sept. 24, 2023]
TV: Pac-12 Bay Area
STREAM | STATS
#3 USC at #2 California
Sunday, Oct. 8 | 1 p.m. | Spieker Aquatics Complex (Berkeley, Calif.)
Series Record: USC leads 69-69-2 (L5)
Last Meeting: CAL 12, USC 5 (Sept. 9, 2023)
STREAM | STATS
THIS WEEK
No. 3 USC has a key conference road trip this weekend, paying visits to No. 5 Stanford and No. 2 California. The Trojans (10-2, 0-1 MPSF) visit the Cardinal (9-4, 0-1) for a 12 p.m. clash on Saturday (Oct. 7) in Stanford before heading up to Berkeley to take on the Golden Bears at 1 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 8).
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 6-1 overall, USC is ranked No. 3 in the nation for the fourth straight week as of the latest set of national rankings (released Oct. 4).
LAST ACTION
USC poured out eight goals in the first period of play to create space and set its course to a final 16-10 win over visiting No. 10 Pacific. The Trojans shut out the Tigers in the third quarter for good measure, pocketing USC's 10th win of the season in improving to 10-2 overall. Max Miller had a hat trick in place before three minutes had even ticked down in the game. He'd finish out the game with a season-high four goals to pace the Trojan offense in the nonconference affair. Joshua Waldoch punched up two goals in the last 1:30 of the first frame, adding his third of the day before halftime. USC's first-period onslaught also featured blasts from Tony Nardelli, Andrej Grgurevic and Luka Brnetic to help the hosts to an 8-3 advantage just eight minutes into the action. The scoring pace slowed in the second period as defenses brought things under control, and the score stood at a 9-4 USC lead at the break. USC goalie Eric Hubner gathered in five saves in that first stretch, and gave way to Bernardo Herzer between the pipes for the second half. Herzer and the Trojan defense put up a wall in the third, shutting out the Tigers while the USC offense plugged five more goals on the board care of five different scorers. Miller's fourth lit the fuse on the attack, which saw Brnetic and Nardelli each bury their second goals of the day. Brnetic later laced a cross to Carson Kranz, who sizzled in the score to build out a 10-goal USC lead with a 14-4 advantage entering the fourth and final frame. There, USC answered two early Pacific goals with a pair by USC newcomers Spencer Averitt and Connor Cohen, who each also assisted on the other's goal to carry USC to a final 16-6 win.
NOTABLE:
- With his season-high four goals today, SR Max Miller is now USC's scoring leader this season with 25 goals.
- Miller now also leads USC with eight multiple-goal games tallied this year.
- With a goal today, GS Massimo Di Martire is even with Miller in having scored in 11 different games this season.
- USC is now 55-12 all-time against Pacific in avenging last year's loss with today's victory over the Tigers.
BY THE NUMBERS
Max Miller and Massimo Di Martire are currently spearheading USC's scoring charge with 25 and 23 goals, respectively. Those two also have each scored in a team-high 11 USC games to date. The Trojans' assists leader is senior Tom McGuire with 23, while Di Martire tops the steals board with 19. Miller and fellow two-meter man Tony Nardelli have combined for 59 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 31 through 12 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Bernardo Herzer capping up in eight 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 9.6 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 166-98 for an average of 13.8 goals per game offensively and 8.2 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in 12 periods of regulation play.
MPSF TO THE MAX
USC men's water polo 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 and now leads the Trojans in scoring with 25 goals on the year. 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. He is now third on the team in scoring this season with 13 goals. 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.
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. •
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