Saturday, October 14
Los Angeles, CA
1:00 PM
UCLA
18-0
11
vs
2
USC
10-5
1
2
3
4
OT
OT
F
USC (M)
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
UCLA (M)
3
2
4
2
0
0
11
Senior Rafael Real Vergara and Freshman Wade Sherlock (12) paced the Bruins' offense with three goals apiece.
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
No. 1 UCLA Topples the Trojans, 11-2
October 14, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
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LOS ANGELES -- No. 1 UCLA (18-0, 4-0 MPSF WEST) used a stellar defensive effort to defeat the visiting fourth-ranked USC Trojans (10-5, 0-4 MPSF WEST), 11-2, on Saturday afternoon at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. UCLA improved to 96-90-1 all-time in the series history. It marked the largest margin of victory over USC since a 19-8 win in 1976 and the two goals scored by USC were the fewest in the series since the Bruins posted a 9-1 win in 1973.
The Bruins had six players score in the contest, led by hat tricks from senior Rafael Real Vergara and freshman Wade Sherlock. Freshman Marcell Szécsi was the Bruins other multi-goal scorer with two against the Trojans.
Senior Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying 13 saves and three steals while surrendering just two goals.
UCLA dominated the first period, 3-0. Szécsi opened the scoring in the first (5:17) with a goal at two meters. Real Vergara converted a penalty that was drawn by redshirt sophomore Eli Liechty (3:35) to put the Bruins up 2-0. Sherlock quickly made it 3-0 with a strike from the front court (2:26) off a feed from Real Vergara.
The Bruins won the second quarter, 2-1, to take a 5-1 lead into the break. Sherlock pushed the lead to 4-0 with his second goal of the game (7:01). Szécsi scored his second at two meters off an assist from senior Jack Larsen (1:38) to end the scoring in the first half.
The Bruins won the third quarter, 4-1, to extend the lead to 9-2 heading into the final stanza. After the Trojans opened the second half with a goal, the Bruins answered with four straight to end the scoring in the third. Frederico Jucá Carsalade scored his first of the game on a power play off a feed from senior Makotot Kenney (4:26). Real Vergara scored his second of the game on a power play off a nice feed from sophomore Noah Rowe (2:17) to push the lead to 7-2. Sherlock completed his hat trick after an ordinary (1:42) to make it 8-2. Then Real Vergara completed his hat trick (0:56) off an assist from Sherlock to end the scoring in the third with the Bruins leading 9-2.
UCLA shut out the Trojans in the fourth quarter, 2-0, to provide the 11-2 final. Freshman Ben Liechty opened the scoring in the fourth with a power play goal off a feed from Real Vergara (4:39) to extend the lead to 10-2 and the scoring streak to five unanswered goals. Redshirt freshman Ben Larsen ended the scoring with a goal from the front court off a pass from Eli Liechty (2:23).
UP NEXT: The Bruins continue their five-game homestand with No. 6 Princeton on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6:00 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. Admission is free.
No. 4 USC at No. 1 UCLA (MPSF Contest - Game 18)
6x5 - UCLA - 3/8 - USC - 0/4
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - USC - 0/0
USC Goals: Massimo Di Martire 1, Carson Kranz 1
USC Saves: Bernardo Herzer 8
UCLA Goals: Rafael Real Vergara 3, Wade Sherlock 3, Marcell Szécsi 2, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Ben Larsen 1, Ben Liechty 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 13
LOS ANGELES -- No. 1 UCLA (18-0, 4-0 MPSF WEST) used a stellar defensive effort to defeat the visiting fourth-ranked USC Trojans (10-5, 0-4 MPSF WEST), 11-2, on Saturday afternoon at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. UCLA improved to 96-90-1 all-time in the series history. It marked the largest margin of victory over USC since a 19-8 win in 1976 and the two goals scored by USC were the fewest in the series since the Bruins posted a 9-1 win in 1973.
The Bruins had six players score in the contest, led by hat tricks from senior Rafael Real Vergara and freshman Wade Sherlock. Freshman Marcell Szécsi was the Bruins other multi-goal scorer with two against the Trojans.
Senior Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying 13 saves and three steals while surrendering just two goals.
UCLA dominated the first period, 3-0. Szécsi opened the scoring in the first (5:17) with a goal at two meters. Real Vergara converted a penalty that was drawn by redshirt sophomore Eli Liechty (3:35) to put the Bruins up 2-0. Sherlock quickly made it 3-0 with a strike from the front court (2:26) off a feed from Real Vergara.
The Bruins won the second quarter, 2-1, to take a 5-1 lead into the break. Sherlock pushed the lead to 4-0 with his second goal of the game (7:01). Szécsi scored his second at two meters off an assist from senior Jack Larsen (1:38) to end the scoring in the first half.
The Bruins won the third quarter, 4-1, to extend the lead to 9-2 heading into the final stanza. After the Trojans opened the second half with a goal, the Bruins answered with four straight to end the scoring in the third. Frederico Jucá Carsalade scored his first of the game on a power play off a feed from senior Makotot Kenney (4:26). Real Vergara scored his second of the game on a power play off a nice feed from sophomore Noah Rowe (2:17) to push the lead to 7-2. Sherlock completed his hat trick after an ordinary (1:42) to make it 8-2. Then Real Vergara completed his hat trick (0:56) off an assist from Sherlock to end the scoring in the third with the Bruins leading 9-2.
UCLA shut out the Trojans in the fourth quarter, 2-0, to provide the 11-2 final. Freshman Ben Liechty opened the scoring in the fourth with a power play goal off a feed from Real Vergara (4:39) to extend the lead to 10-2 and the scoring streak to five unanswered goals. Redshirt freshman Ben Larsen ended the scoring with a goal from the front court off a pass from Eli Liechty (2:23).
UP NEXT: The Bruins continue their five-game homestand with No. 6 Princeton on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6:00 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. Admission is free.
No. 4 USC at No. 1 UCLA (MPSF Contest - Game 18)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 4 USC | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - USC - 0/0
USC Goals: Massimo Di Martire 1, Carson Kranz 1
USC Saves: Bernardo Herzer 8
UCLA Goals: Rafael Real Vergara 3, Wade Sherlock 3, Marcell Szécsi 2, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Ben Larsen 1, Ben Liechty 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 13
Team Stats
USC
UCL
Shots
26
26
Goals
2
11
Assists
1
9
Points
3
20
Exclusions
8
4
Steals
7
11
Sprints
3
1
1
Marcell Szécsi
05:17
Rafael Real Vergara
03:35
Wade Sherlock
02:26
2
Wade Sherlock
07:01
Massimo Di Martire
05:32
Marcell Szécsi
01:38
3
Carson Kranz
04:57
Frederico Jucá Carsalade
04:25
Rafael Real Vergara
02:17
Wade Sherlock
01:42
Rafael Real Vergara
00:56
4
Ben Liechty
04:39
Ben Larsen
02:23
Game Leaders
Shots
4
Goals
3
Assists
3
Points
6
Shots
4
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Shots
3
Goals
3
Assists
1
Points
4
Shots
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's Water PoloUTL
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ATK
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UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
CTR
/ Men's Water PoloATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water PoloCTR
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