Oct. 26, 1997

No. 2 USC Men's Water Polo Beats No. 6 UC Irvine, 11-8

LOS ANGELES -- USC senior driver Mateo Juric scored five points to help lead the No. 2 USC men's water polo team to an 11-8 victory over No. 6 UC Irvine on Sunday at the McDonald's Swim Stadium. It was the Trojans' third win over the Anteaters this season.

Sophomore goalie Richard McEvoy had 15 saves for the Trojans, who improved to 12-4 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. UC Irvine fell to 6-10, 1-4.

USC started off the game well by scoring four goals in the first quarter to take a 4-1 lead. The Trojans maintained that lead through the half, leading the Anteaters 7-3 at the end of the second quarter.

However, the third quarter belonged to Robert Allaire of UC Irvine, who scored three of his team-high five goals in the quarter, including a behind-the-back shot, to help bring the Anteaters to within two points at 9-7 entering the fourth quarter. Though Allaire scored once more in the final period, that was it and USC held on for the victory.

USC next hosts UC San Diego on Saturday (Nov. 1) at noon.

UCI     1   2   4   1   --- 8
USC     4   3   2   2   --- 11
UCI Goals: Robert Allaire 5, Mike Foley 2, Greg Finley 1. 
USC Goals: Mateo Juric 4 (one 2-pointer), James Castle 3, 
Allen Basso 1, Simun Cimerman 1, Sean Hylton 1.
Goalie Saves: Tom Davis (UCI) 6, Richard McEvoy (USC) 15.