Friday, August 29
La Jolla, CA
1:30 p.m.
USC
1-0
10
at
7
UC San Diego
1-1
1
2
3
4
F
Southern California
3
4
1
2
10
UC San Diego
1
2
1
3
7
Team Stats
USC
UCSD
Shots
28
28
Goals
10
7
Assists
7
3
Points
17
10
Exclusions
9
7
Steals
8
6
Sprints
3
1
1
Stefan Brankovic
6:15
Robert Lopez Duart
3:17
Lucas Romaguera
2:23
Jack Martin
1:45
2
Gavin Conant
6:20
Stefan Brankovic
4:04
Jack Martin
3:19
Jaime Bhattacharyya
2:09
Stefan Brankovic
0:56
Felipe Ferreira
0:29
3
Ante Buzov
7:12
Mihailo Vukazic
2:22
4
Eamon Hennessey
5:47
Lachlan Rossi
4:30
Evan Ausmus
3:14
Jackson Boettner
0:39
Robert Lopez Duart
0:01
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
Goals
3
Assists
0
Points
3
Shots
4
Goals
0
Assists
1
Points
1
Shots
3
Goals
2
Assists
1
Points
3
Shots
3
Goals
1
Assists
2
Points
3
Players Mentioned
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
DR
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
2M
/ Men's Water Polo
Photo by: John McGillen
No. 2 USC Men’s Water Polo Whips Up 10-7 Season-Opening Win At No. 12 UC San Diego
August 29, 2025 | Men's Water Polo
Trojans never trailed in their opener, paced by Stefan Brankovic’s hat trick.
LA JOLLA, CALIF. — The No. 2 USC men's water polo team snagged the first lead of the game and didn't look back as the Trojans tacked up a 10-7 win over host No. 12 UC San Diego to kick off their 2025 campaign. Stefan Branković had a career-high three goals in place by halftime for USC, helping to set a course for the team as it opens the season at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.
Goalie Bernardo Herzer pinned up three blocks in the first frame, with the Tritons only cracking the USC defense on a 5-meter penalty shot. USC had a 2-0 lead at that point on goals from Branković and Robert López Duart, and would wrap the first period with a 3-1 advantage after Jack Martin padded the USC lead after pouncing on a rebound and punching it in. True freshman Gavin Conant tallied his first Trojan goal to open the second, sparking a 3-0 USC rally that saw Branković and Martin both find their second goals of the game. UC San Diego got another penalty shot to go next, breaking up the USC surge, but Brankovic buried his third soon after.
USC's 7-3 halftime lead was trimmed to a three-goal margin as the hosts struck first in the third. USC grad transfer Mihailo Vukazić had an answer, though, firing in his first goal as a Trojan to make it 8-4. In the fourth, Herzer hauled in another three saves to get his game tally up to nine. The Tritons pulled to within two goals twice, netting another penalty shot in the final minute of play to make it 9-7, only to see USC have the last word after squashing one final UCSD possession and getting a late open-net goal to top off the 10-7 Trojan victory.
NEXT:
USC continues competition at the Triton Invitational tomorrow (Aug. 30) with two games. The Trojans take on George Washington at 9:20 a.m. before facing No. 15 UC Santa Barbara at 2:40 p.m. at UC San Diego's Canyonview Aquatic Center.
NOTABLE:
- JR Stefan Branković matched his career high with three goals scored today.
- FR Gavin Conant and grad transfer Mihailo Vukazić scored their first goals as Trojans today.
- USC is now 36-2 all-time against UC San Diego, with wins in the last seven meetings (last loss: 2001).
TRITON INVITATIONAL
#2 USC 10, #12 UC San Diego 7
Friday, Aug. 29 | Canyonview Aquatic Center (La Jolla, Calif.)
USC 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 = 10
UCSD 1 - 2 - 1 - 3 = 7
SCORING:
USC — Stefan Branković 3, Jack Martin 2, Robert López Duart 2, Evan Ausmus, Gavin Conant, Mihailo Vukazić.
UCSD — Eamon Hennessey, Ante Buzz, Felipe Ferreira, Lucas Romaguera, Jaime Bhattacharyya, Lachlan Rossi, Jackson Boettner.
SAVES: Bernardo Herzer (USC) 9, Alex Hegeman (UCSD) 7.
Goalie Bernardo Herzer pinned up three blocks in the first frame, with the Tritons only cracking the USC defense on a 5-meter penalty shot. USC had a 2-0 lead at that point on goals from Branković and Robert López Duart, and would wrap the first period with a 3-1 advantage after Jack Martin padded the USC lead after pouncing on a rebound and punching it in. True freshman Gavin Conant tallied his first Trojan goal to open the second, sparking a 3-0 USC rally that saw Branković and Martin both find their second goals of the game. UC San Diego got another penalty shot to go next, breaking up the USC surge, but Brankovic buried his third soon after.
USC's 7-3 halftime lead was trimmed to a three-goal margin as the hosts struck first in the third. USC grad transfer Mihailo Vukazić had an answer, though, firing in his first goal as a Trojan to make it 8-4. In the fourth, Herzer hauled in another three saves to get his game tally up to nine. The Tritons pulled to within two goals twice, netting another penalty shot in the final minute of play to make it 9-7, only to see USC have the last word after squashing one final UCSD possession and getting a late open-net goal to top off the 10-7 Trojan victory.
NEXT:
USC continues competition at the Triton Invitational tomorrow (Aug. 30) with two games. The Trojans take on George Washington at 9:20 a.m. before facing No. 15 UC Santa Barbara at 2:40 p.m. at UC San Diego's Canyonview Aquatic Center.
NOTABLE:
- JR Stefan Branković matched his career high with three goals scored today.
- FR Gavin Conant and grad transfer Mihailo Vukazić scored their first goals as Trojans today.
- USC is now 36-2 all-time against UC San Diego, with wins in the last seven meetings (last loss: 2001).
TRITON INVITATIONAL
#2 USC 10, #12 UC San Diego 7
Friday, Aug. 29 | Canyonview Aquatic Center (La Jolla, Calif.)
USC 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 = 10
UCSD 1 - 2 - 1 - 3 = 7
SCORING:
USC — Stefan Branković 3, Jack Martin 2, Robert López Duart 2, Evan Ausmus, Gavin Conant, Mihailo Vukazić.
UCSD — Eamon Hennessey, Ante Buzz, Felipe Ferreira, Lucas Romaguera, Jaime Bhattacharyya, Lachlan Rossi, Jackson Boettner.
SAVES: Bernardo Herzer (USC) 9, Alex Hegeman (UCSD) 7.
Carson Kranz: Trojans Live 11.25.24
Monday, November 25
Stefan Brankovic | Trojans Live 09.23.24
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
