In a brilliant game from redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Bernardo Herzer, the No. 2 seeded USC Trojans water polo team took down the undefeated No. 3 seeded Fordham Rams 18-16 in overtime.
The game, however, started just like their previous matchup against the Cal Baptist Lancers, and the Trojans found themselves behind 2-0 early.
They did respond quicker than last time, starting with a no angle goal from junior utility Andrej Grgurevic. After a multitude of penalties on the other side of the pool for the Trojans, Herzer made a beautiful save with his right hand. A five-meter was awarded for the Rams and senior attacker Lucas Nieto Jasny found the back of the cage for Fordham. This was the third penalty shot called on the Trojans only three minutes into the game.
USC did respond, though, with Grgurevic’s second goal of the night after a quick skip pass from junior driver Evan Ausmus. Shortly later, Grgurevic scored his third goal of the night, which would bring the score within one with the Trojans still down 4-3. With 40 seconds to play in the first period, a great entry pass to fifth-year 2-meter Max Miller led to the Trojans tying the game up at four.
This goal marked the start of the physicality in this match. The main physical confrontation came on an entry pass when sophomore utility Barnabas Eppel and sophomore utility Stefan Brankovic both went under water. The official ended up kicking both players out: Eppel with a standard game misconduct, and Brakovic with a flagrant misconduct. This meant that the Rams would get their fourth five-meter attempt of the quarter, which was buried by Nieto Jasny, his third score of the match.
After a goal from Rams senior 2-meter Luca Silvestri, sophomore driver Zach Bettino scored his first goal of the NCAA Tournament to bring the game back within one. Sophomore driver Robert López Duart scored his first goal of the match two minutes later to tie the game back at 6.
Both teams went to battle in the third frame, with Miller, Kranz and redshirt junior 2-meter Jack Martin all finding the scoresheet, while Fordham seemed to keep responding with four goals of its own to stay within one goal of the Trojans.
It would be the Rams, however, who struck early in the fourth on a goal from senior attacker George Papaniklaou to tie it back up at 12. After the goal, Bettino was hit with his third exclusion of the night which made him the fourth player sent out of the matchup.
Herzer continued to make numerous big saves to keep the Trojans alive. However, it was only a matter of time before Fordham retook the lead 13-12 with just under five minutes remaining. Grgurevic responded only 40 seconds later to tie it up.
The final three minutes of the match were an absolute mess.
After a great field block on one side of the pool from Grgurevic, the Trojans were called for an offensive foul in transition. Fordham took possession and took a shot which was beautifully saved by Herzer. USC then went down on their side and fed López Duart in the post who finished it to score and capped it off with a bow and arrow celebration.
It certainly wasn’t over though, as Fordham scored a goal with one minute left on the clock to tie it back up at 14. The two teams would head to two overtime periods which would decide who would face the UCLA Bruins in the finals.
In the first overtime period it was Herzer who continued his insane game with a huge save before López Duart had one of the top goals of the year with a backhanded, no-look shot that found the far corner and put the Trojans up by a goal. On the other side of the pool, Herzer made another massive save, his 15th of the night. This would ultimately be what would haunt the Rams, as the Trojans would score on their next two possessions led first by Martin with his third of the night, and then Grgurevic with his fifth.
The Rams would not go away though. They scored to bring the game back within three with 40 seconds left in the first overtime frame. After a good play defensively, the Rams would get the last possession and take a long range shot where Herzer made another huge save to keep the Trojans ahead.
In the second overtime period, the Trojans would push the deficit up to three after Kranz dumped an entry pass to Miller, who scored his third of the game. This was ultimately the dagger in the matchup.
When all was said and done, USC outlasted Fordham and took home the victory 18-16.
In a rematch of the MPSF Finals, the Trojans will now face UCLA on Sunday at 3 p.m. for the fifth time this season and look to win the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.