In an impressive performance by redshirt sophomore goalie Bernardo Herzer, the No. 2 seeded USC Trojans water polo squad triumphed over the undefeated No. 3 seeded Fordham Rams with a score of 18-16 in overtime. The match commenced similarly to their earlier clash against the Cal Baptist Lancers, with the Trojans quickly finding themselves trailing […]
In an impressive performance by redshirt sophomore goalie Bernardo Herzer, the No. 2 seeded USC Trojans water polo squad triumphed over the undefeated No. 3 seeded Fordham Rams with a score of 18-16 in overtime.
The match commenced similarly to their earlier clash against the Cal Baptist Lancers, with the Trojans quickly finding themselves trailing 2-0.
However, they reacted faster than in their previous game, beginning with a no-angle shot from junior utility Andrej Grgurevic. Following a series of penalties for the Trojans, Herzer delivered a stunning save with his right hand. The Rams received a five-meter penalty, which senior attacker Lucas Nieto Jasny successfully converted for Fordham. This marked the third penalty awarded to the Rams just three minutes into the game.
USC answered back, with Grgurevic netting his second goal of the night after a swift skip pass from junior driver Evan Ausmus. Moments later, Grgurevic scored again, bringing the score to 4-3 with the Trojans just one point behind. With 40 seconds remaining in the first period, a fantastic entry pass to fifth-year 2-meter Max Miller resulted in the Trojans leveling the game at four.
This goal initiated the physical aspect of the match. The key physical confrontation occurred during an entry pass, where sophomore utility Barnabas Eppel and sophomore utility Stefan Brankovic tangled underwater. The official ultimately ejected both players: Eppel for a standard game misconduct and Brankovic for a flagrant misconduct. Consequently, the Rams were awarded their fourth five-meter chance of the period, which Nieto Jasny successfully scored, marking his third goal of the match.
After a goal from Rams senior 2-meter Luca Silvestri, sophomore driver Zach Bettino found the net for his first of the NCAA Tournament, reducing the deficit to one. Two minutes later, sophomore driver Robert López Duart scored his first goal of the match, tying the game at 6.
Both teams engaged in a fierce struggle during the third quarter, with Miller, Kranz, and redshirt junior 2-meter Jack Martin all contributing goals, while Fordham managed to keep pace, scoring four goals to remain just one behind the Trojans.
The Rams took the lead early in the fourth quarter with a goal from senior attacker George Papaniklaou, tying it at 12. Following this, Bettino was issued his third exclusion of the night, making him the fourth player removed from the matchup.
Herzer kept making crucial saves to maintain USC’s chances. However, it was only a short while before Fordham regained the lead at 13-12 with just under five minutes on the clock. Grgurevic quickly tied it back up only 40 seconds later.
The last three minutes of the game were chaotic.
After an excellent field block from Grgurevic, the Trojans were called for an offensive foul in transition. Fordham gained possession and attempted a shot that was expertly saved by Herzer. USC then moved downfield, where López Duart received a pass in the post, finishing with a score and celebrating with a bow and arrow gesture.
The drama didn’t end there, as Fordham managed to net a goal with one minute remaining, equalizing at 14. Both teams then headed into two overtime periods to determine who would advance to face the UCLA Bruins in the finals.
During the first overtime, Herzer continued his stellar game with another significant save, before López Duart executed one of the year’s finest goals with a backhanded, no-look shot that found the far corner, putting the Trojans ahead by one. On the opposite side, Herzer made yet another tremendous save, his 15th of the night. This sequence would ultimately haunt the Rams, as the Trojans scored on their next two possessions, starting with Martin’s third goal and then Grgurevic securing his fifth.
The Rams were not ready to concede, scoring to bring the game back to a two-goal difference with 40 seconds remaining in the first overtime. After a solid defensive play, the Rams managed the last possession and took a long-range shot, where Herzer came up huge with another critical save, keeping the Trojans in the lead.
In the second overtime, the Trojans extended their advantage to three points when Kranz passed an entry ball to Miller, who scored his third of the game. This ultimately sealed the fate of the matchup.
Ultimately, USC triumphed over Fordham, claiming victory with a score of 18-16.
In a rematch of the MPSF Finals, the Trojans are set to face UCLA on Sunday at 3 p.m. for the fifth time this season, aiming to win the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
