Courtesy: USC Athletics
CLAREMONT, CALIF. — The No. 3 USC men’s water polo team flexed its scoring muscle today at the Inland Empire Classic, with a widespread attack in both victories at Axelrood Pool in Claremont. The Trojans had 13 different scorers in their 21-12 win over host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps before upping that to 14 scorers as USC wrapped the day with a 19-8 win over Pomona-Pitzer. USC improves to 6-1 overall with today’s victories.
The Trojans got out to a strong start against the Stags, drumming up eight straight goals while shutting out their hosts in the first frame. Ashworth Molthen scored twice in that early USC rally while the defense got the job done at the other end. CMS would break its silence midway through the second period, answering Jake Ehrhardt’s opening strike with a finish that made it 8-1. That broke the seal for the Stags, who would generate four goals in that frame, along with four more in the third and fourth periods as well. USC’s offense kept clicking, however. USC’s 10-4 halftime advantage ballooned to a double-digit lead in the fourth after Chris Agliozzo became the 13th Trojan scorer in the game with his first goal of the year to make it 21-11 with 1:53 to go. Along the way, Molthen, Chris Sturtevant and Tony Nardelli had each hit hat tricks. And in the third, USC freshman whipped in a strike out of set to tally his first official goal as a Trojan in taking USC to a 15-7 lead. Goalies Kyle McKenney and Eric Hubner split time in the cage, combining for nine saves vs. CMS.
In USC’s second game of the day, the Trojans tightened up its defense for the bulk of the stretch. Only three Pomona-Pitzer goals squeaked through in the first half on Blake Jackson’s watch, while Eric Hubner kept the Sagehens out of the net throughout his stand in the third period. USC’s offense, meanwhile, wielded a widespread attack. Molthen would rack up another hat trick, as he was joined by 13 other Trojan scorers in the win. Capping off the day’s work was Aidan Wattson, who delivered his first goal of the year to top off USC’s 19-8 victory.
NEXT:
Next week, USC heads northward for three games. On Friday (Sept. 16), the Trojans visit Pacific at 5:30 p.m. in Stockton. Then it’s over to Davis for the Aggie Roundup on Saturday (Sept. 17), with USC facing host UC Davis at 9:15 a.m. and then taking on Navy at 1 p.m.
NOTABLE:
– With goals vs. CMS and Pomona-Pitzer today, Marcus Longton stands as the only Trojan to score in all seven games this season.
– Zac Crenshaw scored his first goal as a Trojan vs. CMS.
– Eric Hubner set his career high with five saves in the second half vs. CMS.
– Chris Agliozzo and Aidan Wattson both scored their first goals of the year today.
– USC’s 14 different scorers vs. Pomona-Pitzer matched its season high set in the opener vs. Concordia.
– Ashworth Molthen led USC in scoring with three goals in each game today.
– With four goals scored today, Jake Ehrhardt climbed to tie at No. 20 all-time at USC with 134 career goals.
INLAND EMPIRE CLASSIC
USC 21, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 12
Sept. 10, 2022 | Axelrood Pool (Claremont, Calif.)
USC 7 – 3 – 6 – 5 = 21
CMS 0 – 4 – 4 – 4 = 12
SCORING:
USC — Chris Sturtevant 3, Tony Nardelli 3, Ashworth Molthen 3, Jake Ehrhardt 2, Andrej Grgurevic 2, Carson Kranz, Luka Brnetic, Marcus Longton, Max Miller, Jake Carter, Evan Ausmus, Chris Agliozzo, Zac Crenshaw.
CMS — Walker 3, Pang 3, Korol 2, Rosser 2, Thomas, Weldon.
SAVES: Kyle McKenney (USC) 4 [1st half], Eric Hubner (USC) 5 [2nd half], Nettekoven (CMS) 4 [1st half], Taylor (CMS) 7 [2nd half].
USC 19, Pomona-Pitzer 8
Sept. 10, 2022 | Axelrood Pool (Claremont, Calif.)
USC 6 – 6 – 5 – 2 = 19
PP 1 – 2 – 0 – 5 = 8
SCORING:
USC — Ashworth Molthen 3, Jake Ehrhardt 2, Luka Brnetic 2, Marcus Longton 2, Max Miller, Jake Carter, Evan Ausmus, Chris Sturtevant, Massimo Di Martire, Tony Nardelli, Chris Agliozzo, Reed Stemler, Jack Vort, Aidan Wattson.
PP — S. Sasaki 3, Whiting 2, Koretsky, Plashke, B. Sasaki.
SAVES: Blake Jackson (USC) 5 [1st half], Eric Hubner (USC) 3 [3rd period], Garrett Allen (USC) 3 [4th period], Byrne (PP) 5.
