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University of the Pacific

Apostolos Georgaras
14
Winner Southern California USC (11-1)
7
Pacific PAC (6-3)
Winner
Southern California USC
(11-1)
14
Final
7
Pacific PAC
(6-3)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Southern California USC 2 2 5 5 14
Pacific PAC 2 2 1 2 7

Game Recap: Men's Water Polo |

No. 10 Pacific Deadlocks No. 3 USC in First Half, Falls in Second

STOCKTON, Calif. – For the second straight game against a top-three opponent, the 10th-ranked Pacific men's water polo program went into halftime tied, but couldn't pull out the victory as No. 3 USC broke free for a 14-7 result Friday at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
 
The Tigers (6-3) trailed 2-0 to start the game when sophomore Ori Buzaglo and freshman Apostolos Georgaras scored to level it 2-2 at the end of the first. Georgaras scored again early in the second to put Pacific ahead 3-2.
 
After USC (11-1) regained a 4-3 edge, another tally by Georgaras evened it 4-4 at the half.
 
Though, the Trojans used a 5-1 third quarter to create separation and stayed on top in the fourth. It came after Pacific was tied 8-8 with No. 2 Cal at the intermission on Sept. 12 before falling 17-9.
 
Pacific was paced by Georgaras who netted a hat trick. He's up to a team-high 38 scores on the year. Buzaglo, graduate Manuel Pembertty, sophomore Yoav Rendler and freshman Borisz Kasa-Gal each scored once.
 
The game was a return of alumnus Mihailo Vukazic, who spent the previous four years playing for the Tigers and was the 2024 West Coast Conference Player of the Year, 2024 All-America First-Team honoree and was one of three finalists in the nation for the Cutino Award. Vukazic scored a goal in the second quarter and recorded three shots in the match.
 
It was USC's first win in Stockton in the last three tries. The last home match-up was a 15-13 win by the Tigers in 2022.
 
Pacific will wrap-up the weekend with a road game at No. 17 UC Santa Barbara at 12 p.m. Sunday. Attendance is free and open to the first 300 fans when it hits maximum capacity.
 
Tigers Tickets
Tickets for upcoming events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.
 
Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific men's water polo, be sure to follow the team on X (@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (@pacificwaterpolo) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Men's Water Polo).
 
#PacificProud
 
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