With a guaranteed trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line, the Stanford men’s water polo team came up one shot short as it fell to USC, 8-7, in triple overtime on Sunday in the final of the MPSF Tournament.

The game featured many ups and downs, with USC taking the lead early then seeing it dwindle and turn into a deficit as Stanford turned up its game towards the end of regulation. A penalty shot by Trojan junior Matthew Burton tied the game at 5 with 1:20 left in regulation, sending the game to its first overtime.

The first extra period began with USC scoring off a nifty counterattack leading to a well-executed breakaway goal. Then, with seven seconds left, and Stanford’s hopes of victory seeming to be fading, a penalty shot was awarded to the Cardinal and junior driver Jacob Smith netted the shot to force a second overtime.

The second overtime played out almost identically, with USC scoring early in the period and then Stanford coming through with another clutch goal, this time by senior captain Sage Wright, with 7 seconds left to play.

After the second overtime the game headed into sudden death phase and the Trojans, taking advantage of their ability to win the jump ball off the initial sprint, netted a shot inside the near post, under the outstretched arms of goalie Brian Pingree.

The loss will likely end Stanford’s season, as it has a weaker resume than other candidates for the lone at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.