NCAA Water Polo : Cal Beats USC in Overtime, Wins Seventh National Title

Kirk Everist’s goal with 59 seconds left in overtime gave California a 9-8 victory over USC and the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. water polo title Sunday night at Belmont Plaza pool in Long Beach.

The Golden Bears had a six-on-five advantage when Everist took a pass from Pat Reid and shot past goalie Kevin Stringer.

USC tried desperately to tie the game with time running out but one shot hit the crossbar and another was stopped by goalie Jeff Brush.

That save redeemed Brush, who had allowed a goal on a desperation 20-meter shot by Giacomo Rossi that tied the game, 8-8, with one second left in the first of the two three-minute extra periods.

The Trojans, trying for their first national title, made up a 7-5 fourth-quarter deficit against the top-seeded Bears and had a chance to win at the end of regulation.

But Brush stopped Keith Leggett’s high shot.

“If he had shot it low, we’d be the national champions,” said USC Coach John Williams.

Instead, California won its seventh NCAA title.