Sunday, February 7
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM

UCLA

2-5

7
at
5

USC

5-3

1
2
3
4
F
UCLA
1
2
3
1
7
Southern California
1
2
1
1
5
Tommy Gruwell
Sophomore Tommy Gruwell led all scorers with a hat trick in the win over the Trojans.
Photo by: Minette Rubin

No. 2 UCLA Gets Huge Road Win at No. 2 USC, 7-5

February 07, 2021 | Men's Water Polo


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LOS ANGELES --ย Sophomore Tommy Gruwell led all scorers with a hat trick as No. 2 UCLA (5-3, 4-3 MPSF) used a stellar defensive effort to win another epic crosstown splashdown, 7-5, at No. 2 USC (2-5, 2-5 MPSF) on Sunday night at Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The Bruins defense held USC to just 1-for-8 on power play opportunities.

Freshman Mo Kenney got the Bruins on the board first with a power play goal (6:04). The Trojans would convert a penalty shot to provide the only other score of the first period.

Freshman Tanner Pulice struck first for UCLA in the second (6:39) on a counter to put the Bruins up 2-1. Senior Chasen Travisanoย set upย Gruwell for a power play goal (3:17) to put UCLA up 3-1. The Trojans answered with another penalty score and a power play goal to tie the game at 3-3 at halftime.

Redshirt freshman Jack Larsen set up sophomore Gabe Discipuloย for a one-timer on a 6-on-5 (6:20) to open the scoring in the third, giving UCLA a 4-3 edge. Gruwell then converted a penalty shot (drawn by Travisano) for his second score of the game to push the lead to 5-3. After a counter goal by the Trojans, the Bruins got an answer from senior Nicolas Saveljic, who scored on a power play (1:13) to make it 6-4 and end the scoring in the third with the eventual game-winning goal.

After the Trojans struck first with a cross-cage goal (7:35) to open the scoring in the fourth, both teams' defenses went to work. But Gruwell would not be denied his hat trick as he scored on a near-side shot (2:21) after an ordinary foul to give the Bruins a 7-5 advantage that would prove to be the final score.

Sophomore Bernardo Maurizi had a stellar outing in the cage, recording 10 savesย and one stealย while holding the Trojans to a season-lowย five goals (only two at even strength).

Nic Porter registered eight saves for USC, which was led in scoring by Jacob Mercep with two goals.

The Bruins will take a week off before traveling to Stanford to face these three same teams again, beginning with the Trojans on Saturday, Feb. 20 at a time TBD.
ย 
No. 2 UCLA atย No. 2ย USCย (Uytengsu Aquatics Center)

SCOREBOARD 1 2 3 4 FINAL
No. 2 UCLA 1 2 3 1 7
No. 2 USC 1 2 1 1 5

6x5 -ย UCLA - 4/10 - USC - 1/8
Penalties -ย UCLA - 1/1 - USC - 2/2

USC Goals:ย Jacob Mercep 2, Luke Wyatt 1, Carson Kranz 1, Chris Sturtevant 1
USC Saves:ย Nic Porter 8

UCLA Goals:ย Tommy Gruwell 3, Nicolas Saveljic 1, Mo Kenney 1, Tanner Pulice 1, Gabe Discipulo 1
UCLA Saves:ย Bernardo Mauriziย 10
ย 

Team Stats

UCLA
USC
Shots
22
25
Goals
7
5
Assists
3
2
Points
10
7
Exclusions
10
12
Steals
12
13
Sprints
2
2
1

Mo Kenney

6:04

Jacob Mercep

3:59

2

Tanner Pulice

6:39

Tommy Gruwell

3:17

Luke Wyatt

1:18

Jacob Mercep

0:39

3

Gabe Discipulo

6:26

Tommy Gruwell

5:45

Carson Kranz

1:46

Nicolas Saveljic

1:13

4

Chris Sturtevant

7:35

Tommy Gruwell

2:21

Game Leaders

Shots
8
Goals
2
Assists
0
Points
2
Shots
5
Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Shots
3
Goals
1
Assists
1
Points
2
Shots
3
Goals
0
Assists
1
Points
1

Players Mentioned

CTR
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
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