TUSTIN, Calif. — UC San Diego men's water polo split two games Sunday at Tustin High School to wrap up play at the Big West-WCC Clash.
In the morning contest, the Tritons fell to UC Davis, 13-12. In the afternoon's seventh-place match, they defeated California Baptist by a score of 12-9.
The Tritons are now 11-9 on the season after going 2-2 at the tournament, which was hosted by UC Irvine. Saturday, UC San Diego defeated San Jose State and lost to UC Santa Barbara.
Participating from the Big West were Long Beach State, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara. Out of the West Coast Conference were California Baptist, Loyola Marymount, and San Jose State.
------
AGAINST CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
California Baptist scored the game's first goal on a power play just 18 seconds in and it would be the only time that UC San Diego would trail.
The Tritons scored the next three goals - two from
Eamon Hennessey and one from
Brendon Fezzey - and held a 3-1 advantage with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
Trailing 3-2 in the second period, CBU's Bodhi Bowden scored to tie it 3-3 with 6:53 left until halftime. Triton
Rhys Bugelli had the first of two consecutive goals at 2:25, putting UC San Diego back in front, where the Tritons would stay for the rest of the game.
Felipe Ferreira's goal midway through the third quarter gave the Tritons a four-goal lead, their largest of the game, at 10-6.
Bennett Axline scored on a power play with 20 seconds left in regulation to give UC San Diego a four-goal lead for the second time, 12-8.
With only one tick left on the clock, CBU's Jaedan Calder netted the game's final goal.
Axline and Hennessey both recorded hat tricks. Bugelli finished with two goals and three assists, while
Miles Wilson assisted on three Triton goals. Goalie
Logan Estes had five saves and four steals. The four steals was a new career-high for the junior.
The Lancers got two goals apiece from Bowden and Cameron Cullen. Cullen also earned assists on two goals. Keeper Trevor Benge had eight saves.
The Tritons were one-for-10 (.100) on the power play, while the Lancers were five-for-11 (.455).
It was the Tritons' second victory over the Lancers this season as they took a 12-11 win last week at the MPSF Invitational.
------
AGAINST UC DAVIS
Triton junior
Eamon Hennessey scored his second goal of the game with 2:28 remaining in regulation to knot the score at 12-12. Following an Aggie exclusion, UC San Diego went on a power play, but was unable to find the net. With 1:27 on the clock, the Tritons were whistled for an exclusion and UC Davis took advantage as Logan Anderson scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal at the 1:09 mark.
UC San Diego owned a lead on two occasions. The first came early when senior captain
Kaden Likins netted the game's first goal just 1:33 into the opening quarter. The Tritons also went in front when center
Bennett Axline tallied the first goal of the second quarter, putting his team ahead 3-2. However, UC Davis answered with two-consecutive goals to move ahead and the Aggies would not trail again.
Likins matched his single game career high with four goals. He also assisted on three goals to establish a new career best with seven points. In addition, he registered three steals and a drawn exclusion.
Axline put three goals away, his third hat trick and the ninth occasion that he finished with multiple goals in a game this season.
For UC Davis, Aleix Aznar Beltran finished with three goals and two assists.
The Aggies were potent on the power play, converting on eight of 12 opportunities (.667). The Tritons were four-for-15 (.267). Both teams fired 25 shots in the game.
The two teams meet again in a Big West contest on Nov. 4 in La Jolla.
------
TRITON TIDBITS
• The Tritons won 11 of 16 sprints over the four tournament games.
•
Logan Estes' 11 total saves over both of Sunday's games equaled the amount he had in each of Saturday's two games.
•
Eamon Hennessey has scored 11 goals over his last five outings. His eight scores during the tournament led all Tritons.
• Goalie
Nikita Valajev earned a win at Concordia Friday, the first victory of the sophomore's career.
• Eleven players made their career debuts for the Tritons on Saturday, Sept. 2, during the Triton Invitational including Akerstrom,
Jaime Bhattacharyya,
Finn Bugelli,
Emiliano Castro, Ferreira,
Eamon Hennessey,
Reef Lippa,
Augi Macchi,
Mason Presley,
Nolan Roberts, and
Lucas Romaguera.
• The Big West is sponsoring men's water polo for the first time in 32 years. Its last period with the sport was 1984-1991.
------
UP NEXT
UC San Diego returns to Big West action when its hosts UC Irvine on Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. in a Blue & Gold Rivalry game at Canyonview Aquatic Center. Tickets can be purchased through the
Triton Box Office.
------
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
