LA JOLLA, Calif. — Rhys Bugelli's overtime goal was the game-winner as UC San Diego topped Long Beach State, 11-10, Thursday evening in the first Big West game for both teams.
With the victory at Canyonview Aquatic Center, the 14th-ranked Tritons improved to 6-3 overall. The Beach, ranked eighth nationally, fell to 7-2.
The Big West is sponsoring the sport of men's water polo in 2023 following a 32-year hiatus.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bugelli's strike came on a power play with 2:39 remaining in the first overtime period. Both teams went scoreless in the second three-minute overtime.
It was an outstanding debut performance for
Ante Buzov, who recorded a hat trick in his first game as a Triton. The junior transfer scored once in the first quarter and twice in the second, all during even-strength situations. His first goal came with 3:17 left on the clock in the first and it put UC San Diego up 2-1. His second goal at the 4:44 mark of the second period also broke a tie, giving the Tritons a 4-3 advantage. The Croatian's final goal of the night came with 42 seconds left until halftime. Once again, it gave a lead to the Tritons, this time putting them in 7-6.
Buzov also finished with three steals, three drawn exclusions, and a pair of field blocks.
With the score locked at 8-8, UC San Diego's
Lucas Romaguera found the net on a power play with just three seconds left in the third quarter.
Felipe Ferreira opened the scoring in the fourth frame, giving the Tritons a two-goal cushion at 10-8.
Caleb Francisco scored at 2:37 to get The Beach back within one. Following a 30-second timeout by Long Beach State, Evan Cain scored to bring his team even at 10-10.
Landon Akerstrom and
Bennett Axline each had two goals for the Tritons. Akerstrom added two assists to his totals.
Kaden Likins had a goal for UC San Diego as well. Triton goalkeeper
Logan Estes had nine saves and three steals.
Cain had a hat trick and three assists for Long Beach State while Riley Catino and Guillermo Ocasio had two goals apiece. Liam Ward made 14 stops in net.
Both teams struggled on man-up situations. Long Beach failed to score in 13 opportunities and UC San Diego was three-for-14.
The Tritons held a 41-29 lead in shots.
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HIGHLIGHT REEL
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INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH MATT USTASZEWSKI
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TRITON TIDBITS
•
Ante Buzov is in his first season at UC San Diego after playing two years at West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif.
•
Landon Akerstrom has scored in all nine games with multiple goals in six.
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Bennett Axline has scored in all nine games with multiple goals in six.
•
Felipe Ferreira has scored in all nine games with multiple goals in four.
• 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 1984-91.
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UP NEXT
UC San Diego hosts sixth-ranked Stanford Friday at noon. Purchase tickets through the
Triton Box Office.
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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.
