WATER POLO / NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT LONG BEACH : Stanford, California Begin a Familiar Trip

It is no surprise that Stanford and California return as the top teams when the NCAA Water Polo Championships start today at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Stanford lost to Cal, 12-11, in sudden death to win the title last year. This year, Stanford has been No. 1 all season in the coaches’ poll and Cal moved into second two weeks ago. If the seeding goes as planned, they would meet in the finals for the seventh time.

A match made in chlorine.

But maybe not this year. The surprise team might be USC.

The Trojans were ranked No. 2 for most of the year and, except for two losses to Stanford, have made great use of a new NCAA rule involving the two-point goal.

USC, which is looking for its first title, might have its best shot this season because of a host of good shooters and a quick defense that forces turnovers.

Like the three-point line in basketball, the two-point goal is designed to open up defenses and make the game more exciting. It is only used in the NCAA, in which any goal from beyond the seven-meter line is awarded two points.

Three-time defending champion Cal, which won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, has won five consecutive games.

Cal has the best two-meter player in the country in senior Troy Barnhart. He scored 64 points this season and leads a deliberate attack to slow down opponents who try to counter.

In games today, top-seeded Stanford will play Navy (No. 8, 20-5) at noon, Cal (No. 2, 19-8) plays Massachusetts-Amherst (No. 7, 20-4) at 1:30 p.m., USC (No. 3, 17-8) plays UC San Diego (No. 6, 19-8) at 3:30 p.m. and UC Irvine (No. 4, 17-9) plays Pacific (No. 5, 17-8) at 5 p.m.