LOS ANGELES — In a tightly contested matchup at Uytengsu Aquatics Center, the No. 2 USC men’s water polo team was unable to overcome an early deficit, falling to No. 3 Stanford 8-6. The loss splits USC’s MPSF action over the weekend, leaving the Trojans with a 12-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in conference play.
Stanford wasted no time asserting dominance, striking first and quickly building a formidable 5-0 lead. Despite several opportunities on the power play, USC struggled to find its rhythm offensively. However, goalie Bernardo Herzer provided a spark, stopping a crucial 6-on-5 chance for the Cardinal. This momentum shift led to USC’s first goal as Andrej Grgurevic connected with Luka Brnetic for a stunning long-range shot, breaking the silence. Robert López Duart added another just before halftime, stealing the ball and scoring to cut Stanford’s lead to 5-2.
The third quarter proved challenging for the Trojans, as missed power play opportunities allowed Stanford to extend their lead to 8-2, bolstered by a 6-on-5 score and a penalty shot. Yet, in the fourth quarter, USC began to rally. Max Miller earned a penalty shot that López Duart converted, and the two teamed up for another goal to bring the score to 8-4. A crucial field block by Brnetic further fueled USC’s comeback effort, and Miller scored again to narrow the gap to 8-6 with just over two minutes left.