This Title Goes to USC

Stanford may have the best men’s water polo player in college today, maybe ever. USC showed it has the best team this season.

The Trojans won their first NCAA men’s water polo championship in five years and second in school history by defeating the two-time defending champions, 9-7, in two overtimes Sunday night at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center.

USC (23-3), the most consistent team this year, defeated Stanford for the fourth time in as many meetings this season despite a match-high four goals by Cardinal star Tony Azevedo, a two-time college player of the year. “This is a game that is all about matchups, and we really match up well with Stanford with our deep bench and excellent goalie,� USC Coach Jovan Vavic said.

Azevedo, also a top player for the U.S. national team, gave Stanford (22-5) a 7-6 lead in regulation with a shot that beat USC goalie Bozidar Damjanovic with 2:48 remaining. Gabi Hadar’s second goal of the match tied it on a six-on-five power play with 1:31 left to send the match into the first of two three-minute overtime periods.

Trevor Clark, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Anaheim Servite, provided the eventual game-winner with 56 seconds left in the second overtime. Predrag Damjanov led the Trojans with three goals, and Hadar and Cameron Kaiser each scored twice.

Loyola Marymount (17-14) took third place with a 10-7 victory over Navy.