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Photo by: John McGillen
No. 2 Seed USC Men’s Water Polo Takes 20th Straight Trip To NCAA Tournament
December 04, 2024 | Men's Water Polo
USC is looking for its 11th national title with this week’s competition running Dec. 6-8 at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center.
THIS WEEK
Winners of three straight MPSF Tournament championships, USC is on to its 20th consecutive NCAA appearance. The Trojans (21-5) secured the No. 2 seed into this year's National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship, which runs Dec. 6-8 at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center. USC opens up with a quarterfinal bout against California Baptist at 4 p.m. on Friday (Dec. 6) to fight for a spot in the 3 p.m. semifinal on Saturday (Dec. 7) against either No. 3 seed Fordham (30-0) or Long Beach State (20-10). The 2024 NCAA championship game is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 8). USC is aiming to capture the program's 11th men's NCAA crown and first since 2018.
RANKINGS
USC started the 2024 season ranked No. 4 in the national preseason poll and tied at No. 3 in the preseason MPSF Coaches Poll. Currently 21-4 overall, USC is now in a three-way tie at No. 1 in the nation as of the latest set of national rankings (released Nov. 27).
FOLLOW ALONG
This week's NCAA quarterfinal and semifinal games will stream live at ncaa.com/liveschedule, and the NCAA championship game will air on ESPNU. Live stats for all games can be found at scores.6-8sports.com.
NCAA NOTES
The Trojans are making their 20th consecutive and 39th overall appearance in the national tournament. With 10 total crowns to its name on the men's side, USC made history in 2012 as the first collegiate men's water polo team to make eight consecutive appearances and then added to their historic efforts in becoming the first collegiate water polo team ever to win six straight NCAA titles in 2013. The Trojans are looking to claim their 11th title, with the program's first-ever NCAA championship won in 1998 and its 10th captured in 2018. As a university, USC has won 136 national team championships, including 113 NCAA team titles. USC leads the nation in men's NCAA team titles with 85 to date.
THE FIELD
The 2024 National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship features an eight-team field, with two at-large teams and six automatic qualifiers as conference champions. UCLA (23-2) is the top-seeded team and is an at-large selection out of the MPSF along with No. 4 seeded at-large team, host Stanford (21-4). Automatic qualifiers for this year's tourney are: MPSF champion and No. 2 seed USC (21-5), Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference champion and No. 3 seeded Fordham (30-0), Big West Conference champion Long Beach State (20-10), Northeast Water Polo Conference champion Princeton (23-8), West Coast Conference champion California Baptist (13-9) and Western Water Polo Association champion Salem (20-3).
THIS TIME LAST YEAR
USC put forth a powerful performance at the 2023 MPSF Tournament to secure its 19th consecutive NCAA berth, handing top-seeded UCLA its first loss of the year with a 13-9 win in the semifinals before topping No. 2 seeded host Cal in a nail-biter 13-12 in the championship game. It was the Trojans' second straight MPSF Tournament title and 13th overall, as well as the fifth time USC has won back-to-back crowns. Hosts of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, USC was the No. 3 seed in the field and opened up with an 18-10 win over San José State in the quarterfinals. That put the Trojans up against No. 2 seed Cal in the semis. USC trailed by three during the game and fought back to tie it up in the fourth, although the Bears would edge ahead and take the spot in the final with a final 10-9 decision that wrapped USC's season with a 16-7 overall record.
MPSF CHAMPS
USC made a postseason power move once again, claiming its third straight MPSF Tournament title and 14th all-time to secure the Trojans' 20th straight ticket to the NCAA Tournament. USC opened up against Austin College in the quarterfinals and dispatched the Roos with a 31-2 win. Twelve different Trojans scored in that one, led by Jack Martin's career-high eight goals — second most ever scored by a Trojan in a single game. The next day, USC was in a must-win scenario against Stanford, and the Trojans came through in the clutch. Carson Kranz scored three of his career-high five goals during overtime, and goalie Bernardo Herzer made 15 total saves to help USC scoot back to the MPSF title match with an 18-16 OT win over the Cardinal. Up against top-seeded host UCLA in the final, USC never trailed and came through with a 15-13 victory to capture a crucial MPSF tournament title. Kranz was named MPSF Tournament MVP, and Herzer and Max Miller were picked to the MPSF All-Tournament Team.
BY THE NUMBERS
With NCAA action ahead, Robert López Duart and Max Miller currently spearhead USC's scoring charge, with 54 and 47 goals tallied, respectively. López Duart leads the crew with 17 multiple-goal outings to date. Miller leads the team in having scored at least once in 24 of USC's 26 games so far, while Andrej Grgurevic holds the longest active streak of consecutive games scored in with eight. Stefan Brankovic has served up a team-high 30 assists, followed closely by López Duart's 29. On the steals front, goalie Bernardo Herzer has 40 and López Duart has 28. Miller and fellow two-meter man Martin have combined for 72 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 50 through 26 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Herzer capping up in 22 games, redshirt junior Eric Hubner making five appearances and redshirt freshman Charles Mills checking in to eight games. Herzer has set the season's high mark with his career-high 16-save outing vs. Stanford on Sept. 21. All told, USC's goalkeeping corps is averaging 9.3 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 402-253 for an average of 15.5 goals per game offensively and 9.7 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in 11 periods of regulation play. USC has recorded 14 games with 10 or more different scorers this season. The Trojans are also 4-0 in overtime games on the year.
ALL-MPSF MEN
USC stacked up five repeat honorees and two new faces on the 2024 MPSF honor roll, making it a total of seven Trojans earning places on All-MPSF West teams for their work this season. In his first season of action as a Trojan, Robert López Duart locked up his All-MPSF First Team honors as USC's top scorer and leader in multiple-goal games this season. Also on the Cutino Award Watch List, López Duart is a four-time MPSF Newcomer of the Week winner. He has topped out with a five-goal outburst in a USC win over Stanford earlier this year. A captain, Max Miller has pocketed his second straight selection to the All-MPSF First Team thanks in part to having scored in all but two games so far this year. USC's second leading scorer, he's been a force at two-meters and leader in drawn exclusions. Also on the Cutino Award Watch List, Miller was named MPSF Player of the Week this season. Junior Andrej Grgurevic has upgraded last year's Honorable Mention with his place on this season's All-MPSF Second Team. He's third on USC's scoring list this year while topping out with a couple hat tricks this season to date. He's joined by two-time All-MPSF Second Team selection Bernardo Herzer — USC's go-to goalie who also leads the team in steals. He also scored his first career goal earlier this season, and he set a new career high in single-game saves with 16 in USC's OT win over Stanford earlier this year. Looming largest on the All-MPSF Honorable Mention list is senior Luka Brnetic, who now has his second Honorable Mention pick to go with Second Team honors earned in 2023. USC's leader in field blocks, Brnetic also is a force on the offensive end this season, having delivered a career-high hat trick vs. UC Santa Barbara. Now a four-time All-MPSF Honorable Mention recipient to go along with First Team honors last year, captain Carson Kranz is an all-around standout this season. He was named MPSF Player of the Week earlier this month. In his first season of competition as a Trojan, Stefan Brankovic is a team captain alongside Kranz and Miller. Now with All-MPSF Honorable Mention accolades to his name, Brankovic was named MPSF Newcomer of the Week last week. He leads the team in assists with 26, and he's been a reliable goal scorer as well this season.
ROBERT MAKES HIS MPSF MARK
USC not only grabbed four wins in its first weekend of work in 2024, the Trojans also got on the board with the first MPSF Newcomer of the Week award of the season. A new face on the Trojan roster this year, sophomore transfer Robert López Duart secured the selection after serving up nine goals for USC at the Triton Invitational. López Duart was USC's top scorer at the event last weekend, where his nine goals helped the Trojans go 4-0. His first goal as a Trojan came in a two-goal outing versus No. 10 Long Beach State, netting an early 3-2 lead in an eventual 14-6 win. He had two steals and three drawn exclusions in that season-opening victory as well. López Duart scored once in limited playing time during USC's 20-6 win over Cal State Fullerton, and then set his USC high mark with a four-goal outburst along with two assists against No. 8 UC Davis in an 18-12 win. He'd end the event with two goals in USC's 21-6 win over Westcliff.
SECOND SWEEPS WEEK
On Oct. 28, USC landed pair of Trojans on the MPSF weekly honor roll for the second time this season. Scoring his first career MPSF West Player of the Week selection was senior Carson Kranz, while sophomore Robert López Duart secured his fourth MPSF West Newcomer of the Week award. MPSF West Player of the Week Kranz tied his carer high with a hat trick in USC's 18-10 win over visiting No. 10 UC Davis. He also tallied two steals in the win, which marked USC's final home game of the season and improved the Trojans to 16-3 overall. MPSF West Newcomer of the Week López Duart scored in a 13th consecutive game for USC, tallying a hat trick in USC's win over the Aggies. He also tallied an assist and a drawn exclusion in the victory. USC also swept the MPSF weekly awards on Sept. 18, when Max Miller picked up MPSF Player of the Week honors and López Duart scored his second MPSF Newcomer of the Week award.
THAT'S THREE
Three weeks into his career as a Trojan, Robert López Duart collected his third set of MPSF West Newcomer of the Week honors after another powerful weekend of work. López Duart led USC with 10 goals scored at the Overnght MPSF Invitational, setting his USC career high with a five-goal outing — including the game-winner — in a 12-11 overtime win over No. 2 Stanford. In USC's 13-12 overtime win over No. 10 Long Beach State, López Duart scored a team-high three goals and had two assists. He also scored once in USC's win over UC Davis and once in a loss to No. 1 UCLA in the title match.
BRANKOVIC ON THE BOARD
In his first season of action at USC, sophomore Stefan Brankovic picked up his first MPSF award, named the MPSF West Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 11. Brankovic had two goals, two assists, three field blocks and a steal for USC in its 12-8 win over No. 14 UC Santa Barbara last weekend. He scored his two goals early in a 4-0 USC start to the game, extending his scoring streak to a team-high five straight games.
CENTURY CLUBBIN'
In USC's home opener, two Trojans hit the 100-goal mark during the same period of play. In their second season as team captains and fifth seasons of work as Trojans, Carson Kranz and Max Miller each nailed their 100th career goals. With his second goal of the game, Miller tallied his 100th to get USC a 7-5 lead over UC Irvine. Exactly four minutes later, Kranz drilled a 5-meter penalty shot to also notch his 100th. The pair are now on an elite list of 46 Trojans to have scored 100 goals in their USC careers. Entering NCAA action, Miller stands ranked No. 20 all-time in career scoring with 140 goals. Kranz sits at No. 27 with 127.
BACK FOR MORE
USC returns five players who scored 20 or more goals last year to account for almost half of USC's scoring. That includes three returning All-Americans in Zach Bettino and captains Carson Kranz and Max Miller, while USC also boasts an All-American goalie in Bernardo Herzer. USC's "senior" class is sizable, as Kranz and Miller enter their fifth seasons along with fellow veterans Tom McGuire and Reed Stemler along with true seniors Luka Brnetic, Jake Carter, Eric Hubner and Aidan Wattson.
SHARPSHOOTERS
Firepower is far from a concern for these balanced Trojans. On the perimeter, the right side is taken care of with lefties Zach Bettino and Jack Vort along with right-handed attackers like Stefan Brankovic, Jake Carter and Andrej Grgurevic, who also shines as a master of the counterattack. Opposite them, Trojan fans will enjoy the USC debut of Robert López Duart and the rise of Luke Nelson, while key returners Carson Kranz, Tom McGuire, Aidan Wattson and Evan Ausmus boast the ability to strike from anywhere in the pool, and redshirt freshman Chase Landa is also set to factor into USC's offensive machine.
FIRE IN THE HOLE
The two-meter slot will be a busy one, as USC has strength, depth and skill at both ends. Senior hole guard Luka Brnetic, who trained with the Croatian National Team last summer, is tabbed as a cornerstone of Pintaric's defensive scheme along with fellow seniors Connor Cohen and Reed Stemler. Sophomore Spencer Averitt brings back his intensity to that spot as well to bring extra depth in the hole. Offensively, USC's top scorer in 2024, Max Miller, is back for year five of work in the center position. Junior Zac Crenshaw returns as well to bring size and experience to USC's two-meter attack, while Jack Martin is cued up for his Trojan debut as a proven force and a deft left hand in front of the cage.
CAGE FIGHTERS
Speaking of defense, the backbone sits between the pipes, where Bernardo Herzer emerged with All-American honors in his first season of work for the Trojans. His talented fellow goalies Eric Hubner and Charles Mills battled injuries last season, but both put forth ferocious stands in goal while healthy. All signs are pointing toward a reliable corps in the cage in 2024, with that trio back for more along with incoming freshman goalie Nemo Pavoggi.
NEW CREW
Three not-so-secret weapons — Stefan Brankovic, Jack Martin and Robert López Duart — are officially capped up for the first time as Trojans in 2024. Brankovic and Martin sat out their first season at USC and are now raring to go. López Duart brought his All-American accolades collected as a freshman at Long Beach State over to USC last spring. Three true freshmen round out the 2024 USC roster with the additions of goalie Nemo Pavoggi along with driver Taj Whitehead and utility Ben Mirisch.
PINTA'S PROGRAM
Marko Pintaric, who has been part of 14 NCAA championships during his 23 years on the USC coaching staff, is in his sixth year at the helm of the Trojan men's program. Last season, he guided the Trojans to a 19th consecutive NCAA appearance, reaching the NCAA final for the 18th time in that span after also winning a second straight MPSF Tournament title. 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.
LAST SEASON
USC's 2023 season saw the Trojans repeat as the MPSF Tournament champions in order to clinch a 19th straight trip to the NCAA tourney. Host of the 2023 NCAA even, USC reached the semifinals and fell in a one-goal loss to eventual champion Cal to finish 16-7 overall. At season's end, USC had five players earn ACWPC All-America honors led by first-time First Team pick Max Miller. USC also had Massimo Di Martire and Carson Kranz earn spots on the Second Team, while Zach Bettino and Bernardo Herzer earned Honorable Mention in their first seasons of work as Trojans.
THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California is the undeniable, unequaled and unquestioned top destination for student-athletes. USC is both home to 136 national team championships and one of the top-ranked private research institutions in the world. Located in the heart of the thriving Los Angeles metropolitan area, it is situated in one of the most diverse and visible media markets in the world. USC's campus is driving distance from the beautiful beaches of Southern California, the majestic mountains range of the Sierra Nevada, the sprawling splendor of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the mysterious Mojave Desert. The student-athlete experience at USC is truly unmatched. •
Winners of three straight MPSF Tournament championships, USC is on to its 20th consecutive NCAA appearance. The Trojans (21-5) secured the No. 2 seed into this year's National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship, which runs Dec. 6-8 at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center. USC opens up with a quarterfinal bout against California Baptist at 4 p.m. on Friday (Dec. 6) to fight for a spot in the 3 p.m. semifinal on Saturday (Dec. 7) against either No. 3 seed Fordham (30-0) or Long Beach State (20-10). The 2024 NCAA championship game is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 8). USC is aiming to capture the program's 11th men's NCAA crown and first since 2018.
RANKINGS
USC started the 2024 season ranked No. 4 in the national preseason poll and tied at No. 3 in the preseason MPSF Coaches Poll. Currently 21-4 overall, USC is now in a three-way tie at No. 1 in the nation as of the latest set of national rankings (released Nov. 27).
FOLLOW ALONG
This week's NCAA quarterfinal and semifinal games will stream live at ncaa.com/liveschedule, and the NCAA championship game will air on ESPNU. Live stats for all games can be found at scores.6-8sports.com.
NCAA NOTES
The Trojans are making their 20th consecutive and 39th overall appearance in the national tournament. With 10 total crowns to its name on the men's side, USC made history in 2012 as the first collegiate men's water polo team to make eight consecutive appearances and then added to their historic efforts in becoming the first collegiate water polo team ever to win six straight NCAA titles in 2013. The Trojans are looking to claim their 11th title, with the program's first-ever NCAA championship won in 1998 and its 10th captured in 2018. As a university, USC has won 136 national team championships, including 113 NCAA team titles. USC leads the nation in men's NCAA team titles with 85 to date.
THE FIELD
The 2024 National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship features an eight-team field, with two at-large teams and six automatic qualifiers as conference champions. UCLA (23-2) is the top-seeded team and is an at-large selection out of the MPSF along with No. 4 seeded at-large team, host Stanford (21-4). Automatic qualifiers for this year's tourney are: MPSF champion and No. 2 seed USC (21-5), Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference champion and No. 3 seeded Fordham (30-0), Big West Conference champion Long Beach State (20-10), Northeast Water Polo Conference champion Princeton (23-8), West Coast Conference champion California Baptist (13-9) and Western Water Polo Association champion Salem (20-3).
THIS TIME LAST YEAR
USC put forth a powerful performance at the 2023 MPSF Tournament to secure its 19th consecutive NCAA berth, handing top-seeded UCLA its first loss of the year with a 13-9 win in the semifinals before topping No. 2 seeded host Cal in a nail-biter 13-12 in the championship game. It was the Trojans' second straight MPSF Tournament title and 13th overall, as well as the fifth time USC has won back-to-back crowns. Hosts of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, USC was the No. 3 seed in the field and opened up with an 18-10 win over San José State in the quarterfinals. That put the Trojans up against No. 2 seed Cal in the semis. USC trailed by three during the game and fought back to tie it up in the fourth, although the Bears would edge ahead and take the spot in the final with a final 10-9 decision that wrapped USC's season with a 16-7 overall record.
MPSF CHAMPS
USC made a postseason power move once again, claiming its third straight MPSF Tournament title and 14th all-time to secure the Trojans' 20th straight ticket to the NCAA Tournament. USC opened up against Austin College in the quarterfinals and dispatched the Roos with a 31-2 win. Twelve different Trojans scored in that one, led by Jack Martin's career-high eight goals — second most ever scored by a Trojan in a single game. The next day, USC was in a must-win scenario against Stanford, and the Trojans came through in the clutch. Carson Kranz scored three of his career-high five goals during overtime, and goalie Bernardo Herzer made 15 total saves to help USC scoot back to the MPSF title match with an 18-16 OT win over the Cardinal. Up against top-seeded host UCLA in the final, USC never trailed and came through with a 15-13 victory to capture a crucial MPSF tournament title. Kranz was named MPSF Tournament MVP, and Herzer and Max Miller were picked to the MPSF All-Tournament Team.
BY THE NUMBERS
With NCAA action ahead, Robert López Duart and Max Miller currently spearhead USC's scoring charge, with 54 and 47 goals tallied, respectively. López Duart leads the crew with 17 multiple-goal outings to date. Miller leads the team in having scored at least once in 24 of USC's 26 games so far, while Andrej Grgurevic holds the longest active streak of consecutive games scored in with eight. Stefan Brankovic has served up a team-high 30 assists, followed closely by López Duart's 29. On the steals front, goalie Bernardo Herzer has 40 and López Duart has 28. Miller and fellow two-meter man Martin have combined for 72 drawn exclusions, with Miller leading the count with 50 through 26 games of work. On the defensive end, three goalies have seen time in the cage, with redshirt sophomore Herzer capping up in 22 games, redshirt junior Eric Hubner making five appearances and redshirt freshman Charles Mills checking in to eight games. Herzer has set the season's high mark with his career-high 16-save outing vs. Stanford on Sept. 21. All told, USC's goalkeeping corps is averaging 9.3 saves per game. As a team, USC has outscored its opponents 402-253 for an average of 15.5 goals per game offensively and 9.7 goals-against per game defensively. The USC defense has held opponents scoreless in 11 periods of regulation play. USC has recorded 14 games with 10 or more different scorers this season. The Trojans are also 4-0 in overtime games on the year.
ALL-MPSF MEN
USC stacked up five repeat honorees and two new faces on the 2024 MPSF honor roll, making it a total of seven Trojans earning places on All-MPSF West teams for their work this season. In his first season of action as a Trojan, Robert López Duart locked up his All-MPSF First Team honors as USC's top scorer and leader in multiple-goal games this season. Also on the Cutino Award Watch List, López Duart is a four-time MPSF Newcomer of the Week winner. He has topped out with a five-goal outburst in a USC win over Stanford earlier this year. A captain, Max Miller has pocketed his second straight selection to the All-MPSF First Team thanks in part to having scored in all but two games so far this year. USC's second leading scorer, he's been a force at two-meters and leader in drawn exclusions. Also on the Cutino Award Watch List, Miller was named MPSF Player of the Week this season. Junior Andrej Grgurevic has upgraded last year's Honorable Mention with his place on this season's All-MPSF Second Team. He's third on USC's scoring list this year while topping out with a couple hat tricks this season to date. He's joined by two-time All-MPSF Second Team selection Bernardo Herzer — USC's go-to goalie who also leads the team in steals. He also scored his first career goal earlier this season, and he set a new career high in single-game saves with 16 in USC's OT win over Stanford earlier this year. Looming largest on the All-MPSF Honorable Mention list is senior Luka Brnetic, who now has his second Honorable Mention pick to go with Second Team honors earned in 2023. USC's leader in field blocks, Brnetic also is a force on the offensive end this season, having delivered a career-high hat trick vs. UC Santa Barbara. Now a four-time All-MPSF Honorable Mention recipient to go along with First Team honors last year, captain Carson Kranz is an all-around standout this season. He was named MPSF Player of the Week earlier this month. In his first season of competition as a Trojan, Stefan Brankovic is a team captain alongside Kranz and Miller. Now with All-MPSF Honorable Mention accolades to his name, Brankovic was named MPSF Newcomer of the Week last week. He leads the team in assists with 26, and he's been a reliable goal scorer as well this season.
ROBERT MAKES HIS MPSF MARK
USC not only grabbed four wins in its first weekend of work in 2024, the Trojans also got on the board with the first MPSF Newcomer of the Week award of the season. A new face on the Trojan roster this year, sophomore transfer Robert López Duart secured the selection after serving up nine goals for USC at the Triton Invitational. López Duart was USC's top scorer at the event last weekend, where his nine goals helped the Trojans go 4-0. His first goal as a Trojan came in a two-goal outing versus No. 10 Long Beach State, netting an early 3-2 lead in an eventual 14-6 win. He had two steals and three drawn exclusions in that season-opening victory as well. López Duart scored once in limited playing time during USC's 20-6 win over Cal State Fullerton, and then set his USC high mark with a four-goal outburst along with two assists against No. 8 UC Davis in an 18-12 win. He'd end the event with two goals in USC's 21-6 win over Westcliff.
SECOND SWEEPS WEEK
On Oct. 28, USC landed pair of Trojans on the MPSF weekly honor roll for the second time this season. Scoring his first career MPSF West Player of the Week selection was senior Carson Kranz, while sophomore Robert López Duart secured his fourth MPSF West Newcomer of the Week award. MPSF West Player of the Week Kranz tied his carer high with a hat trick in USC's 18-10 win over visiting No. 10 UC Davis. He also tallied two steals in the win, which marked USC's final home game of the season and improved the Trojans to 16-3 overall. MPSF West Newcomer of the Week López Duart scored in a 13th consecutive game for USC, tallying a hat trick in USC's win over the Aggies. He also tallied an assist and a drawn exclusion in the victory. USC also swept the MPSF weekly awards on Sept. 18, when Max Miller picked up MPSF Player of the Week honors and López Duart scored his second MPSF Newcomer of the Week award.
THAT'S THREE
Three weeks into his career as a Trojan, Robert López Duart collected his third set of MPSF West Newcomer of the Week honors after another powerful weekend of work. López Duart led USC with 10 goals scored at the Overnght MPSF Invitational, setting his USC career high with a five-goal outing — including the game-winner — in a 12-11 overtime win over No. 2 Stanford. In USC's 13-12 overtime win over No. 10 Long Beach State, López Duart scored a team-high three goals and had two assists. He also scored once in USC's win over UC Davis and once in a loss to No. 1 UCLA in the title match.
BRANKOVIC ON THE BOARD
In his first season of action at USC, sophomore Stefan Brankovic picked up his first MPSF award, named the MPSF West Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 11. Brankovic had two goals, two assists, three field blocks and a steal for USC in its 12-8 win over No. 14 UC Santa Barbara last weekend. He scored his two goals early in a 4-0 USC start to the game, extending his scoring streak to a team-high five straight games.
CENTURY CLUBBIN'
In USC's home opener, two Trojans hit the 100-goal mark during the same period of play. In their second season as team captains and fifth seasons of work as Trojans, Carson Kranz and Max Miller each nailed their 100th career goals. With his second goal of the game, Miller tallied his 100th to get USC a 7-5 lead over UC Irvine. Exactly four minutes later, Kranz drilled a 5-meter penalty shot to also notch his 100th. The pair are now on an elite list of 46 Trojans to have scored 100 goals in their USC careers. Entering NCAA action, Miller stands ranked No. 20 all-time in career scoring with 140 goals. Kranz sits at No. 27 with 127.
BACK FOR MORE
USC returns five players who scored 20 or more goals last year to account for almost half of USC's scoring. That includes three returning All-Americans in Zach Bettino and captains Carson Kranz and Max Miller, while USC also boasts an All-American goalie in Bernardo Herzer. USC's "senior" class is sizable, as Kranz and Miller enter their fifth seasons along with fellow veterans Tom McGuire and Reed Stemler along with true seniors Luka Brnetic, Jake Carter, Eric Hubner and Aidan Wattson.
SHARPSHOOTERS
Firepower is far from a concern for these balanced Trojans. On the perimeter, the right side is taken care of with lefties Zach Bettino and Jack Vort along with right-handed attackers like Stefan Brankovic, Jake Carter and Andrej Grgurevic, who also shines as a master of the counterattack. Opposite them, Trojan fans will enjoy the USC debut of Robert López Duart and the rise of Luke Nelson, while key returners Carson Kranz, Tom McGuire, Aidan Wattson and Evan Ausmus boast the ability to strike from anywhere in the pool, and redshirt freshman Chase Landa is also set to factor into USC's offensive machine.
FIRE IN THE HOLE
The two-meter slot will be a busy one, as USC has strength, depth and skill at both ends. Senior hole guard Luka Brnetic, who trained with the Croatian National Team last summer, is tabbed as a cornerstone of Pintaric's defensive scheme along with fellow seniors Connor Cohen and Reed Stemler. Sophomore Spencer Averitt brings back his intensity to that spot as well to bring extra depth in the hole. Offensively, USC's top scorer in 2024, Max Miller, is back for year five of work in the center position. Junior Zac Crenshaw returns as well to bring size and experience to USC's two-meter attack, while Jack Martin is cued up for his Trojan debut as a proven force and a deft left hand in front of the cage.
CAGE FIGHTERS
Speaking of defense, the backbone sits between the pipes, where Bernardo Herzer emerged with All-American honors in his first season of work for the Trojans. His talented fellow goalies Eric Hubner and Charles Mills battled injuries last season, but both put forth ferocious stands in goal while healthy. All signs are pointing toward a reliable corps in the cage in 2024, with that trio back for more along with incoming freshman goalie Nemo Pavoggi.
NEW CREW
Three not-so-secret weapons — Stefan Brankovic, Jack Martin and Robert López Duart — are officially capped up for the first time as Trojans in 2024. Brankovic and Martin sat out their first season at USC and are now raring to go. López Duart brought his All-American accolades collected as a freshman at Long Beach State over to USC last spring. Three true freshmen round out the 2024 USC roster with the additions of goalie Nemo Pavoggi along with driver Taj Whitehead and utility Ben Mirisch.
PINTA'S PROGRAM
Marko Pintaric, who has been part of 14 NCAA championships during his 23 years on the USC coaching staff, is in his sixth year at the helm of the Trojan men's program. Last season, he guided the Trojans to a 19th consecutive NCAA appearance, reaching the NCAA final for the 18th time in that span after also winning a second straight MPSF Tournament title. 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.
LAST SEASON
USC's 2023 season saw the Trojans repeat as the MPSF Tournament champions in order to clinch a 19th straight trip to the NCAA tourney. Host of the 2023 NCAA even, USC reached the semifinals and fell in a one-goal loss to eventual champion Cal to finish 16-7 overall. At season's end, USC had five players earn ACWPC All-America honors led by first-time First Team pick Max Miller. USC also had Massimo Di Martire and Carson Kranz earn spots on the Second Team, while Zach Bettino and Bernardo Herzer earned Honorable Mention in their first seasons of work as Trojans.
THE PLACE TO BE.
The University of Southern California is the undeniable, unequaled and unquestioned top destination for student-athletes. USC is both home to 136 national team championships and one of the top-ranked private research institutions in the world. Located in the heart of the thriving Los Angeles metropolitan area, it is situated in one of the most diverse and visible media markets in the world. USC's campus is driving distance from the beautiful beaches of Southern California, the majestic mountains range of the Sierra Nevada, the sprawling splendor of the Redwood and Sequoia national forests, and the mysterious Mojave Desert. The student-athlete experience at USC is truly unmatched. •
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
