No. 2 USC Men’s Water Polo Completes Comeback To Take Third At Overnght MPSF Invitational

Sunday, September 20

Stanford, Calif.

12:30 p.m.

USC

10-1

California

8-2

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
California (M)*	4	3	4	1	12
USC (M)	3	3	2	5	13

Photo by: Ellen Levy

No. 2 USC Men’s Water Polo Completes Comeback To Take Third At Overnght MPSF Invitational

September 20, 2026 | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. – The No. 2 USC men's water polo team wrapped up competition at the Overnght MPSF Invitational on Sunday in the third place game against MPSF foe California. The Trojans ended the weekend on a high note with a comeback win to take down the Golden Bears 13-12.

#2 USC 13, #4 California 12
Ante Jerković got the scoring started for the Trojans on the powerplay after the first three minutes of play. The Bears scored on their next possession before getting a powerplay goal of their own.

Efe Naipoglu got the steal on defense and was able to find the back of the cage to knot things up at 2-2.

The teams traded goals but California scored with 1:20 remaining in the first to hold a 4-3 lead.

Strahinja Krstić got his first goal of the day on the first possession of the second frame and then his second to tie things up again, this time at 5-5. California added back to back tallies but Gavin Conant's penalty cut the lead to one at the halftime break.

California outscored the Trojans 4-2 in the third quarter of action and saw their lead get to as many as three.

Robert López Duart fired one home to chip away at the Bears' lead in the fourth and final quarter. California was able to get one back but that would be its last goal of the game. Strahinja Krstic scored immediately after to cut the lead back to two. Ante Jerković then got the steal on defense and scored the counterattack goal. As time winded down, both teams were unable to score until Jerković fired one home to tie the game up for the first time since the second quarter, this time at 12-12.

Looking to close out the game, Apostolos Georgaras got the entry pass in to Krstić who sealed the deal with just under a minute remaining to take down California 13-12.

Scoring: Krstić (4), Jerković (3), Conant (3), Naipoglu (2), López Duart (1)

Saves: Mills (9)

Notables

Gavin Conant led the way with five points, going a perfect 3-for-3 and adding two assists.
Robert López Duart has scored in all 11 games this season.
With his three goals in the win, Ante Jerković registered his first career hat trick.
Five different players scored, four of which had multi-goal performances.
The Trojans moved to 74-73 all-time against California.
This was the fifth straight game that USC has registered two or more field blocks.
Charles Mills and the defense held the Bears to just one goal in the crucial fourth quarter and forced four missed shots.
This game marked the Trojans' eighth ranked win of the season and their first over a top-five opponent.

Up Next
The Trojans will return home for a matchup against No. 10 Pacific at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The game is set for Sunday at 1:00 p.m..