USC Men's Water Polo Defeats Air Force 21-8
The Trojans dominated the match at Uytengsu Aquatics Center with 18 steals and a balanced offense.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Soccer
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The USC men's water polo team defeated the Air Force Academy with a decisive 21-8 victory on Saturday, October 24, 2026. This win concluded the Trojans' regular-season home schedule with a final home record of 6-2.
Why it matters
USC utilized an all-out press defense to limit opponent scoring opportunities following a recent 15-9 loss to UCLA. The victory showcases a rebound in defensive intensity for the team as they look toward upcoming road matchups.
USC outshot the Air Force Academy 42-21 and successfully won all four sprints during the game. Strahinja Krstic led the scoring with 5 goals, followed by Luke Nelson with 3 goals.
The players
USC
The University of Southern California is a Los Angeles-based university competing in collegiate water polo.
Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is a military institution that competes in intercollegiate athletics.
Strahinja Krstic
A player for the USC men's water polo team who led the match with five goals.
Luke Nelson
A USC water polo athlete who added three goals to the team's total in the win against Air Force.
The details
The Trojans employed a balanced offensive attack that saw eleven different players contribute to the scoreline. This total team effort, paired with dominant defensive play, kept the Air Force offense from mounting any significant threat throughout the contest.
Timeline
Saturday, October 24, 2026: USC defeated Air Force 21-8 at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
Upcoming Saturday: USC plays an away game against Stanford at 1 p.m.
Season Trajectory
The victory keeps USC firmly in the conversation as they prepare for challenging road matches against Stanford and UC Berkeley. This win helps the team maintain momentum in their season record of 14-3 as they navigate the final stages of the schedule.
USC successfully rebounded to a 14-3 record, providing a crucial confidence boost before the team travels to play Stanford at the Avery Aquatic Center. The high-volume shooting and steal metrics confirm the squad's current status as a formidable offensive force.
The takeaway
Maintaining a high defensive press can be the difference between a close match and a blowout win in collegiate water polo. Players and fans should note that USC's ability to involve eleven different scorers highlights the depth of their current rotation.
Further reading
For more updates on collegiate competition in the area, visit the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Trojan.
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