USC redshirt junior Sam Slobodien remembers it like a flash. When he freed his hand from the frothy water and grabbed senior Zach D’Sa’s pass, then somehow managed to take a shot.
Slobodien thought it didn’t go in at first. He was tightly covered by a UCLA defender, fighting just to keep his head above water; his only reassurance as he flicked the ball toward the net was the countless times he practiced that play.
Alex Wolf, who tied his career high with 16 saves, could not stop Slobodien’s shot. The fate-flipping instant gave USC (29-3) the lead with five seconds left in an 8-7 victory over the Bruins (23-5) in an NCAA tournament semifinal game.