Day 1 - Sept. 20, 1997

USC Reaches Final Four of Southern California Tournament

LOS ANGELES -- The top four seeds -- top-ranked California, Pepperdine, UC Irvine and host USC -- reached the championship bracket of the 1997 Southern California Water Polo Tournament with two wins each in pool play on Saturday at USC's McDonald's Swim Stadium.

California will meet Pepperdine at 9:20 a.m. on Sunday, while USC will take on UC Irvine at 10:30 a.m. The championship game will take place at 4:20 p.m. Play begins on Sunday at 7 a.m. with consolation games.

To reach the final four, the Trojans bested Long Beach State, 11-4, and UC San Diego, 8-4; California hammered UC Santa Barbara, 9-2, and UC Davis, 18-3; UC Irvine beat UCLA, 9-5, and Air Force, 17-8; and Pepperdine defeated Stanford, 8-3, and Claremont, 9-6.

Top individual performances on Saturday included UC Santa Barbara senior driver Ryan Peddycord scoring four goals in a 16-7 win over UC Davis; Pepperdine junior 2-meter man Jeremy Pope getting four goals and junior goalie Merrill Moses making 16 saves against Stanford in an 8-3 win; and USC junior driver Marko Pintaric finding the back of the net four times in an 8-4 victory over UC San Diego.

"On the first day of the tournament, you would expect teams to be really testing each other," USC Coach Jovan Vavic said. "I was surprised, though, that there weren't more close games, and there weren't really any surprises. The only one might have been UC San Diego beating Long Beach State (10-9), but they also played well against us. As expected, Cal dominated its bracket.

"We played very good defense today. We were a little bit rushed on offense, but if we play solid defense, we'll be in every game. Overall, I'm pleased, but tomorrow will be the real test."

USC McDonald's Swim Stadium
Day One -- Saturday, Sept. 20, 1997

UC Santa Barbara 16, UC Davis 7
UC San Diego 10, Long Beach State 9
UCLA 13, Air Force 3
Stanford 9, Claremont 2
California 9, UC Santa Barbara 2
USC 11, Long Beach State 4
UC Irvine 9, UCLA 5
Pepperdine 8, Stanford 3
California 18, UC Davis 3
USC 8, UC San Diego 4
UC Irvine 17, Air Force 8
Pepperdine 9, Claremont 6

Game #1 -- UC Santa Barbara 16, UC Davis 7
UCSB        1   6   4   5   --  16
UCD         2   1   2   2   --  7

UCSB Goals: Ryan Peddycord 4, Brian McCorduck 2, Matt Nutcher 2, Kevin Ricks 2, Jeremy Sias 1 (one 2 pointer), Tom Couglan 1, Mark Kramer 1, Joey Pacelli 1, Eric Vlasic 1.
UCD Goals: Tom Cuadros 2, Mike Gotelli 2, Brett Nuckols 2, Joel Higgins 1.
Saves: Lance Wahlert (UCSB) 2, Peter Leary (UCD) 4.
Notes: Peddycord, a senior driver, scored two of his four goals in the second quarter as the Gauchos broke out to a 7-3 halftime lead.

Game #2 -- UC San Diego 10, Long Beach State 9
UCSD        3   3   1   3   --  10
LBS         1   2   3   3   --  9

UCSD Goals: Romas Kudirka 3, Ross Mecham 2, Jonathan Samuels 2, Gordon Beh 1, Jason Boettner 1, Adam Bollenbach 1.
LBS Goals: Derek Lefkowith 2, Vincent Trotter 2, Adam Collins 1, Jeffrey Colyer 1, Eric Ploessel 1, Matthew Sakatani 1, Steve Scogin 1.
Saves: Patrick Beemer (UCSD) 4, Adam Carter (LBS) 6.
Notes: The Tritons had a four-goal lead in the first half, though the 49ers cut it to one several times in the fourth quarter, but UC San Diego never gave up the lead and held on for the victory.

Game #3 -- UCLA 13, Air Force 3
UCLA        3   2   2   6   --  13
AF          0   1   2   0   --  3

UCLA Goals: Matt Armato 2, Sam Grayeli 2, Neil Hueston 2, Samuel Bailey 1, Brian Brown 1, Steve Covec 1, Eric Helfer 1, Sean Kern 1, Blake Wellen 1, Adam Wright 1.
AF Goals: Jason Golaboski 2 (one 2-pointer).
Saves: Nick Hill (UCLA) 5, Steven Li (AF) 7.
Notes: Ten different Bruins scored in the lopsided victory.

Game #4 -- Stanford 9, Claremont 2
STAN        4   2   2   1   --  9
CLAR        1   0   0   1   --  2

STAN Goals: David Hay 2, Brian Heifferon 2, Kendall Benson 1, Thad Buzolich 1, Michael Lipinski 1, Jeremiah Robison 1, Jonathan Skaalen 1.
CLAR Goals: Jon Schild 1, Chris Seib 1.
Saves: Chris Aguilera (STAN) 6, Caleb Kelly (CLAR) 7.
Note: After Claremont tied the game, 1-1, 40 seconds into the first quarter, the Cardinal ran off seven straight goals and the Stags didn't score again until 1:44 was left in the game.

Game #5 -- California 9, UC Santa Barbara 2
CAL         3   4   1   1   --  9
UCSB        0   0   0   2   --  2

CAL Goals: Eldad Hazor 2, Pat Cochran 1, Ryan Flynn 1, Phinney Gardner 1, Brad Kittredge 1, Ramsey Ross 1, Peter Stern 1, Albert Won 1.
UCSB Goals: Matt Nutcher 1, Ryan Peddycord 1.
Saves: Peter Kiefer (CAL) 6, Lance Wahlert (UCSB) 2.
Note: California's defense was outstanding, shutting out the Gauchos until 4:45 remained in the game.

Game #6 -- USC 11, Long Beach State 4
USC     3   2   3   3   --  11
LBS     1   1   2   0   --  4

USC Goals: Allen Basso 2, Simun Cimerman 2, Sean Stuart 2, James Castle 1, Johnathon Hewko 1, Thiago Hornos 1, Sean Hylton 1, Marko Pintaric 1.
LBS Goals: Jeffrey Colyer 2, Joey Gendron 1, John Pearce 1.
Saves: Richard McEvoy (USC) 7, Darin Smith (USC) 1, Adam Carter (LBS) 4.
Note: The host Trojans scored the game's final four goals, two by sophomore driver Allen Basso, to turn it into a runaway.

Game #7 -- UC Irvine 9, UCLA 5
UCI         2   3   0   4   --  9
UCLA        0   2   3   0   --  5

UCI Goals: Robert Allaire 2, Jason Gabarra 2, Ryan Williams 1 (one 2-pointer), Kevin Brantley 1, Andy Coffman 1, Greg Finley 1.
UCLA Goals: Eric Helfer 2, Sam Grayeli 1, Sean Kern 1, Brett Stern 1.
Saves: Tom Davis (UCI) 10, Nick Hill (UCLA) 7.
Note: The Bruins came back from a four-goal, second-quarter deficit to the tie it, 5-5, after three periods, but the Anteaters scored all four goals in the fourth quarter, two by senior 2-meter man Robert Allaire.

Game #8 -- Pepperdine 8, Stanford 3
PEP         3   0   2   3   --  8
STAN        0   0   1   2   --  3

PEP Goals: Jeremy Pope 4, Andy Bruininga 1, Alan Herrmann 1, Todd King 1, Jack Kocur 1.
STAN Goals: Layne Beaubien 1, Crosby Grant 1, Brian Heifferon 1.
Saves: Merrill Moses (PEP) 16, Chris Aguilera (STAN) 9.
Note: Junior 2-meter man Jeremy Pope scored the Waves' first two goals as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and the play of junior goalie Merrill Moses (16 saves) made the lead stand up.

Game #9 -- California 18, UC Davis 3
CAL     6   4   4   4   --  18
UCD     1   1   0   1   --  3

CAL Goals: Brent Albright 3, Pat Cochran 2, Phinney Gardner 2, Eldad Hazor 2, Ryan Begin 1, Chris Dornin 1, Ryan Feaver 1, James Lathrop 1, Jeff Moloughney 1, John Rigney 1, Jerry Smith 1, Peter Stern 1, Albert Won 1.
UCD Goals: Mike Gotelli 3.
Saves: Peter Kiefer (CAL) 4, Bryan Collins (CAL) 4, Mike DeJong (UCD) 8.
Note: The Golden Bears scored early and often, as 13 players got into the scoring column.

Game #10 -- USC 8, UC San Diego 4
USC         1   3   2   2   --  8
UCSD        1   0   2   1   --  4

USC Goals: Marko Pintaric 4, James Castle 1 (one 2-pointer), Sean Hylton 1, Sean Stuart 1.
UCSD Goals: Jason Boettner 1, Adam Bollenbach 1, Ross Mecham 1, Jonathan Samuels 1.
Saves: Richard McEvoy (USC) 8, Patrick Beemer (UCSD) 12.
Note: Junior driver Marko Pintaric's four goals (three in the second half) lifted the host Trojans past a scrappy Triton team.

Game #11 -- UC Irvine 17, Air Force 8
UCI     6   4   5   2   --  17
AF      0   1   5   2   --  8

UCI Goals: Kris Templeton 3, Tony Grosso 2 (one 2-pointer), Robert Allaire 2, Andy Coffman 2, Greg Finley 2, Mike Foley 1, Jason Gabarra 1, Jeff Hakim 1, Dan Hayes 1, Dan Klatt 1.
AF Goals: Derek Argel 2, Jason Nolting 1 (one 2-pointer), Bryce Felloney 1, Wade Grabow 1, Rob Mattivi 1, Casey Wood 1.
Saves: Tom Davis (UCI) 1, Genai Kerr (UCI) 10, Steven Li (AF) 4, Charles Toth (AF) 2.
Note: In the highest-scoring game of the day, the Anteaters jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. Two of junior driver Kris Templeton's game-high three goals came during the run.

Game #12 -- Pepperdine 9, Claremont 6
PEP         1   1   3   4   --  9
CLAR        0   1   3   2   --  6

PEP Goals: Alex Rodriguez 3, Jack Kocur 2, Christian Jensen 1, Peter Joseph 1, Jeremy Pope 1, Chris Tilden 1.
CLAR Goals: David Farkas 2, Jon Schild 1 (one 2-pointer), Brennan Bakke 1, Kevin Wallis 1.
Saves: Quenton Gebeau (PEP) 6, Caleb Kelly (CLAR) 10.
Note: The Stags kept it close for three quarters against what was mostly the Waves' second team, and actually led, 6-5, with less than four minutes to play, but the Pepperdine starters pulled it out on senior driver Jack Kocur's go ahead penalty shot with 1:40 to go.

Sunday's Schedule:
7 a.m.      #13: UC Santa Barbara vs. Stanford
8:10 a.m.   #14: UC San Diego vs. UCLA
9:20 a.m.   #15: California vs. Pepperdine
10:30 a.m.  #16: USC vs. UC Irvine
11:40 a.m.  #17: UC Davis vs. Long Beach State
12:50 p.m.  #18: Air Force vs. Claremont
2 p.m.      #19: 5th-place game: Winner 13 vs. Winner 14
3:10 p.m.   #20: 7th-place game: Loser 13 vs. Loser 14
4:20 p.m.   #21: Championship: Winner 15 vs. Winner 16
5:30 p.m.   #22: 3rd-place game: Loser 15 vs. Loser 16
6:40 p.m.   #23: 9th-place game: Winner 17 vs. Winner 18
7:50 p.m.   #24: 11th-place game: Loser 17 vs. Loser 18