Courtesy: UCLA Athletics
LOS ANGELES — No. 2 UCLA (17-1, 2-1 MPSF West) ruined the Trojans’ Senior Day with a 13-10 win on Saturday afternoon at No. 3 USC (15-3, 1-2 MPSF West) at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. UCLA improved to 99-91-1 all-time against the Trojans.
The Bruins had a total of eight players score in the contest, paced by a hat trick from freshman Ryder Dodd. UCLA also had three other players score multiple goals in the win over USC, which included two each from graduate transfer Aaron Voggenthaler, freshman Peter Castillo, and sophomore Ben Liechty.
Graduate student Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying 10 saves, one steal, and one assist while allowing 10 goals.
The Bruins scored first when Voggenthaler scored from the front court (6:17). The Trojans would score back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead. But UCLA tied it up at 2-2 and ended the scoring in the first period when Ben Liechty set up sophomore Wade Sherlock for a 7-on-6 score at the buzzer.
The Trojans outscored UCLA, 5-4, in the second period to take a 7-6 lead into the break. USC scored the first two goals to lead 4-2. A freshman to freshman connection brought UCLA to within one goal as Bode Brinkema set up Castillo for a power play score (3:38). Then Ryder Dodd set up redshirt sophomore Frederico Jucá Carsalade for his first score from the front court (2:27) to tie it at 4-4. The Trojans would score next, but graduate Makoto Kenney answered on a power play off a feed from Ben Liechty (1:33) to tie it up at 5-5. After another Trojan score, Ryder Dodd scored his first to extend his scoring streak to 18 games (0:50). The Trojans would draw and convert a penalty to end the scoring in the second period.
Ryder Dodd opened the scoring in the third to tie the game at 7-7 (7:28) on a 6-on-5 opportunity. It marked the 17th time this year that he has scored multiple goals in a game. He then netted his 11th hat trick of the year (4:31) to put the Bruins back in front at 8-7. Voggenthaler scored his second off an assist from Castillo (2:35) to push the lead to 9-7, extending the Bruins’ scoring streak to three unanswered goals. The Trojans would get one back (2:16) to cut it to 9-8, but graduate Jack Larsen scored his first of the game (1:15) to put UCLA up 10-8. Ben Liechty would end the scoring in the third for his first of the game (0:38) off a feed from Chase Dodd to put UCLA up 11-8 heading into the final stanza.
USC struck first in the fourth on a goal from the front court (5:36) to trim the Bruins’ lead to 11-9. But Ben Liechty found the back of the net for the second time (3:22) off a feed from Sherlock. Castillo scored his second of the game on a counter from a nice pass by Griggs (1:53) to put the Bruins up 13-9. The Trojans tacked on a 10th goal (0:28) to end the scoring at 13-10.
UP NEXT: The Bruins return home to host No. 12 UC Davis on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1:00 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center.
No. 2 UCLA at No. 3 USC (MPSF Contest – Los Angeles, Calif. – Game 18)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 2 UCLA | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 13 |
| No. 3 USC | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
6×5 – UCLA – 5/9 – USC – 1/5
Penalties – UCLA – 0/0 – USC – 1/2
UCLA Goals: Ryder Dodd 3, Aaron Voggenthaler 2, Ben Liechty 2, Peter Castillo 2, Wade Sherlock 1, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Makoto Kenney 1, Jack Larsen 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 10
USC Goals: Robert Lopez Duart 4, Zach Bettino 2, Evan Ausmus 1, Carson Kranz 1, Stefan Brankovic 1, Max Miller 1
USC Saves: Bernardo Herzer 5
Courtesy: USC Athletics
LOS ANGELES — The No. 3 USC men’s water polo team had No. 2 UCLA in its sights before the Bruins made a third-period rally to take a lead and hold on for a 13-10 win over the host Trojans today at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. USC was paced by Robert López Duart’s four-goal effort, although the Trojans go to 15-3 overall and 1-2 in MPSF play with the loss.
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It was a true rivalry battle in the first half, with five ties in those first 16 minutes of action. The Bruins broke through first, but the Trojans punched up back-to-back goals on strikes from López Duart and Evan Ausmus around a couple big defensive plays from goalie Bernardo Herzer to get a 2-1 lead. UCLA equalized just before the buzzer to make it 2-2, only to see USC deliver in the second. Carson Kranz let loose a laser to nudge USC ahead 3-2, and then López Duart rattled in a bar-in blast for a 4-2 USC advantage. The Bruins reined in the Trojans with two 6-on-5 finishes, and then Stefan Brankovic sizzled in a go-ahead goal for the Trojan cause. The teams would trade goals in the next two minutes of the first half, and USC gripped a 7-6 halftime lead.
UCLA benefited from a pair of power plays to edge into an 8-7 lead in the third, then found an even score to go up 9-7. Max Miller tore off a blazing backhand to get USC one back, but the Bruins bit back with a counterattack finish and then a last-minute goal to go up 11-8 entering the fourth. López Duart’s fourth of the day tugged the Trojans within two, but USC would get no closer. UCLA managed back-to-back goals next, and Zach Bettino laced in his second to wrap the game as a 13-10 final score in UCLA’s favor.
NEXT:
USC has its final home stand of 2024 next weekend, hosting UC Davis in a 12 p.m. clash on Saturday (Oct. 26) on Alumni Day for the Trojans. At 1:30 p.m. that day, USC welcomes its alums to the pool for an Alumni Game in the home waters of Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
NOTABLE:
– With a game-high four goals, Robert López Duart continues to lead USC in scoring this season, now with 38 goals.
– With their goals today, López Duart and Max Miller have each now scored in 17 of USC’s 18 games so far this season.
– López Duart and Miller also have each scored at least one goal in USC’s last 12 straight games.
#2 UCLA 13, #3 USC 10
Oct. 19, 2024 | Uytengsu Aquatics Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
USC 2 – 5 – 1 – 2 = 10
UCLA 2 – 4 – 5 – 2 = 13
SCORING:
USC — Robert López Duart 4, Zach Bettino 2, Evan Ausmus, Carson Kranz, Stefan Brankovic, Max Miller.
UCLA —Ryder Dodd 3, Aaron Voggenthaler 2, Peter Castillo 2, Ben Liechty 2, Federico Jucá Carsalade, Wade Sherlock, Jack Larsen, Makoto Kenney.
