The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 21, 1998

Trojans erase past close calls with water polo championship

December 6, 1998, became a landmark date for the Southern California men's water polo program as the Trojans claimed the school's first National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship with a 9-8 double-overtime victory over Stanford.

Marko Pintaric's two-point goal with 1 minute, 38 seconds remaining in the second overtime session lifted Southern California, the championship's No. 1 seed, to victory at Newport Beach, California. The University of California, Irvine, served as championship host.

The title erased years of heartbreak for the Trojans (25-3), who, before the 1998 event, advanced to the championship game six times -- including four of the last five years -- only to finish runner-up each time. The Trojans entered the 1996 and 1997 championships as the No. 1 seed, but finished second each time.

"You cannot believe how terrific it is to win the championship after so many years of trying," said Trojans co-coach John Williams. "This one's not just for this team, but for the entire Trojans water polo family that has been through this."

Stanford (21-7), which was competing in its 13th championship final, finished runner-up for the fifth time in its history.

UC San Diego (18-12) earned its second third-place finish, defeating Massachusetts (27-6) on an extra-man goal from Vladimir Djapic with 13 seconds left in the second sudden-death period.

Pintaric, who was named the championship's most outstanding offensive player, washed away three decades of Trojans frustration when he took a pass from George Csaszar and beat Stanford goalkeeper Chris Aguilera for his only goal of the contest.

Pintaric's goal erased an 8-7 deficit. Stanford had taken the lead in the second overtime session on Sean Joy's goal with 2:13 remaining.

"We lost the ball but George (Csaszar) got it back," said Pintaric, who set a school record with his 12th two-point goal of the season. "It was a crucial moment. Everyone was concentrating on George and he got it to me. I saw the goal well, and that's the most important thing. I practice those shots. You need to be able to shoot when you see the moment come."

Southern California grabbed a 6-5 fourth-quarter lead on a goal by Allen Basso with 3:13 remaining, but Stanford's Andy Walburger forced overtime, beating Trojans' goalkeeper Richard McEvoy with 1:13 remaining to send the game into the two three-minute extra sessions.

Pintaric was joined on the all-tournament team by Stanford's Aguilera and Southern California's Ivan Babic, who shared most outstanding defensive player honors. Also named were Southern California's Csaszar and James Castle, Layne Beaubien and Brian Heifferon of Stanford, Brian Stahl of Massachusetts and Ross Mecham of UC San Diego.

SEMIFINALS

Massachusetts -- 0 -- 0 -- 2 -- 1 -- 3

Southern California -- 4 -- 5 -- 2 -- 1 -- 12

Massachusetts goals: Chad Filiault, Brian Stahl. Two-point goal: Filiault.

Southern California goals: George Csaszar 3, Marko Pintaric 3, Ivan Babic, James Castle, Brian Mericle, Stever O'Rourke. Two-point goals: Csaszar, Pintaric.

Saves: Massachusetts -- Richard Huntley 9, J. R. VanderWall 1; Southern California -- Richard McEvoy 4, Darin Smith 2.

UC San Diego -- 0 -- 1 -- 2 -- 0 -- 3

Stanford -- 3 -- 2 -- 1 -- 0 -- 6

UC San Diego goals: Douglass Cole, Vladimir Djapic, Justin Wylie.

Stanford goals: Layne Beaubien, Pasi Dutton, David Hay, Brian Heifferon, Arturo Rodelo. Two-point goal: Rodelo.

Saves: UC San Diego -- Glenn Busch 7; Stanford -- Chris Aguilera 10. Attendance: 747.

THIRD PLACE

Massachusetts -- 2 -- 0 -- 4 -- 2 -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 9

UC San Diego -- 4 -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 10

Massachusetts goals: Gabriel Marrero 2, Carlos Ramos 2, Timmy Troupis 2, Cory Koenemann, Brook O'Neill, Brian Stahl.

UC San Diego goals: Douglass Cole 2, Ryan Dandy 2, Bryan Traverso 2, Vladimir Djapic, Ross Mecham, Justin Wylie. Two-point goals: Cole.

Saves: Massachusetts -- Richard Huntley 16; UC San Diego -- Joe Walsh 10.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Stanford -- 0 -- 2 -- 2 -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 8

Southern California -- 1 -- 3 -- 0 -- 2 -- 1 -- 2 -- 9

Stanford goals: Layne Beaubien 3, Andy Walburger 2, Sean Joy 2, Arturo Rodelo.

Southern California goals: George Csaszar 2, Allen Basso 2, Ivan Babic, James Castle, Stever O'Rourke, Marko Pintaric. Two-point goals: Pintaric.

Saves: Stanford -- Chris Aguilera 7; Southern California -- Richard McEvoy 9. Attendance: 2,385.