The No. 4 USC men’s water polo team had a stellar start to their 2024 season with two impressive victories at the Triton Invitational held in La Jolla. The Trojans showcased their prowess by defeating No. 10 Long Beach State 14-6 and Cal State Fullerton 20-6. Throughout these matches, a total of 19 Trojans contributed to the score sheet, with six players making their debut goals for USC.
In their opening match against Long Beach State, USC displayed a formidable defense, particularly in the second half, where they held their opponents scoreless. The game began with both teams evenly matched, with the score leveling three times in the first half. Despite the tight competition, USC managed to pull ahead with key goals from Zach Bettino and Luka Brnetic, leading 7-6 at halftime. The second half saw USC take control, with standout performances including a notable save from goalkeeper Bernardo Herzer and a solid finish by Andrej Grgurevic. The match ended with a decisive 14-6 victory for the Trojans.
Later in the day, USC faced Cal State Fullerton for the first time since 1986. The Trojans quickly asserted their dominance with a 6-0 scoring run that put them ahead 7-1. By halftime, USC had a commanding lead of 10-3, and they continued their offensive onslaught with another 6-0 run in the second half. Freshman Taj Whitehead scored his first career goal, and Jack Vort achieved a career-high hat trick. The game concluded with USC securing a 20-6 win, marking an impressive start to their season.
Noteworthy highlights from the games included several players making their first career goals for USC, such as Stefan Brankovic and Robert López Duart in the match against Long Beach State, and Chase Landa and Ben Mirisch in the game against Cal State Fullerton. Goalkeeper Bernardo Herzer also reached a career milestone with his 10th double-digit save game, recording 11 saves against Long Beach State.
USC’s men’s water polo team will continue their Triton Invitational campaign with two more matches scheduled for September 8. They will compete against No. 8 UC Davis and Westcliff University, aiming to build on their strong performance from the opening day and continue their successful season start.