USC Men’s Water Polo received a warm welcome from an enthusiastic crowd of fans in Berkeley as they arrived for the MPSF Invitational. The Trojans, currently ranked No. 3, are in town for the highly anticipated tournament at Cal’s Spieker Aquatics Complex, where they’ll face off against top competition.
As the team prepared for their upcoming matches, the Trojans took time to greet and engage with supporters who gathered to cheer them on. The energy of the fans added an extra boost for USC as they gear up to compete against Stanford, Long Beach State, and UC Davis over the weekend.
With USC’s undefeated start to the season, the team’s popularity continues to grow, and the excitement around their performance is palpable. The players expressed gratitude for the support and are eager to deliver strong performances in front of their Berkeley-based fans as they aim for a spot in Sunday’s championship match.
Stay tuned for more updates on USC’s journey through the MPSF Invitational!
Current Rankings
USC entered the 2024 season ranked No. 4 nationally and tied for No. 3 in the MPSF Coaches Poll. With an impressive 7-0 start, the Trojans hold the No. 3 spot in the latest national rankings as of September 18.
Recent Performance
The Trojans secured three wins during their home opener, improving their season record to 7-0. Highlights from those games include:
- USC 15, UC Irvine 11: After a tight first half, USC pulled away in the third period with contributions from Luke Nelson, Andrej Grgurevic, and captain Max Miller, who scored his 100th career goal.
- USC 21, Whittier 9: USC scored seven goals in the first quarter and 14 players found the net. Luka Brnetic tied his career high with three goals, while Jack Martin set a new personal best with two.
- USC 16, Pepperdine 7: USC went on an 8-0 scoring run to hand Pepperdine its first loss, anchored by stellar defensive efforts from Bernardo Herzer and Charles Mills in goal.
Notable Milestones
- Max Miller and Carson Kranz each surpassed 100 career goals during the UC Irvine game.
- USC has had at least 10 different goal scorers in every game this season.
Team Stats
Seven games into the season, USC has outscored opponents 125-57, averaging 17.9 goals per game while allowing just 8.1. Robert López Duart leads the team with 13 goals, while Miller and Luke Nelson have added 11 and 10, respectively. Stefan Brankovic is USC’s assists leader with 10, and Jack Martin is the only player to have scored in all seven games.
Looking Ahead
USC returns a strong core of veterans, including three returning All-Americans and standout goalie Bernardo Herzer. Fresh talent like Robert López Duart has quickly made an impact, with López Duart earning the MPSF Newcomer of the Week award twice this season. Head coach Marko Pintaric continues to guide the Trojans toward excellence in his sixth year at the helm, following a successful 2023 season that saw USC reach the NCAA semifinals and win the MPSF Tournament title.
USC is poised for another deep postseason run, and the MPSF Invitational will be a key test as they continue their march toward the 2024 NCAA Championships.
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