POMONA, Calif. ? The 5th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team punched its ticket to the NCAA Final Four with a thrilling 10-9 victory over 8th-ranked Loyola Marymount at the Wester Water Polo Association Championships on Sunday in Pomona.
The WWPA title is the 14th for the Tritons who advance on to the NCAA National Semifinals on Saturday, December 2 at the Burns Recreation & Aquatics Center on the LMU campus. UCSD's opponent is still to be determined, with the winners of the National Semifinals will meet in the NCAA National Championship game on Sunday, December 3 at 2 p.m.
This will be UCSD's first appearance since the Tritons last went in 2002. In 2000, UCSD became the first division II team to advance to the NCAA title game after defeating USC 9-8 in the national semifinal. The Tritons finished second that year. The Tritons finished third in 1995 and 1998, while taking fourth in 1999 and 2002.
The Tritons stormed out to a 3-1 lead, only to see the Lions score four unanswered goals to take the 5-3 advantage. UCSD scored twice before half, tying the game at 5-5 at intermission.
In the second half, the game of runs continued. With the score tied at 6-6, UCSD scored three unanswered goals to take the 9-6 lead with three and a half minutes to play in regulation. LMU then rallied in the final minutes, tying the game at 9-9. UCSD's Nestor Dordoni then hit a shot that went off two bars to put UCSD in front 10-9. The Tritons then had a 6-on-5 during their last possession and was able to run out the clock.
At the conclusion of the tournament, the All-Western Water Polo Association team was announced. Jesse Casellini was named WWPA Most Valuable Player and was joined on the WWPA First-Team by teammate Ty Lackey. Other Tritons named to the All-WWPA team were 2nd-teamer A.J. Kotanjian and honorable mention Adnan Jerkovic.
The Tritons improve to 25-5, with the 25 victories being a new school record, breaking the 24 victories set by the 2005 squad.
