Cal beats USC for men’s title, 8-6

PALO ALTO -- Adam Haley scored twice to help California win its 13th NCAA men’s water polo title with an 8-6 victory over top-ranked USC on Sunday.

Senior goalkeeper Mark Sheredy made several key saves down the stretch for second-ranked Cal (28-4), including a penalty shot late in the third period.

Zac Monsees also scored twice for the Bears.

J.W. Krumpholz scored twice for the Trojans (19-3), who played in their third straight championship game and fourth in five years.

“I thought our guys played very hard. As a team we played with lots of pride and we gave it all we got. I think our shots didn’t go today, and that our youth showed. I give Berkeley credit, they did a good job scoring when they needed to score, but overall I felt that we had our opportunities,” Trojans Coach Jovan Vavic said.

Tommy Corcoran, Drew Vyn, Gabor Sarusi and Jovan Vranes also scored for USC.

Last year, Cal beat USC, 7-6, in the title game.

Brian Dudley, Spencer Warden, Trent Calder and Thomas Pearson added goals for the Bears.

The score was tied 4-4 at the half. The Trojans led just once, when Krumpholz scored off a pass from Justin Rappel to open the second period.

California scored three unanswered goals to work back into the lead two minutes into the second.

USC was trailing, 7-5, with 1:18 left in the game, when California scored on a ball that was deflected by the Trojans’ defense.

The loss ends a six-game winning streak by the Trojans, who have won three national championships in men’s water polo, in 1998, 2003 and 2005.

Three Trojans were named to the all-tournament first team: Corcoran, Krumpholz and Matt Sagehorn.