LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego men's water polo hits the road this week for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Invitational hosted by UCLA and USC.
The Tritons begin play Friday afternoon against Pepperdine at UCLA's Spieker Aquatics Center (3 p.m.).
UC San Diego plays twice Saturday and once Sunday as well, with opponents, times, and locations to be determined according to daily results.
Also competing at the tourney are California, California Baptist, Long Beach State, Occidental, Pomona-Pitzer, Princeton, Santa Clara, Stanford, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, USC, and Whittier.
UC San Diego comes in ranked ninth in both the ACWPC and CWPAÂ national polls. Pepperdine is fourth in the CWPAÂ and fifth in the ACWPC rankings.
All games at the MPSF Invitational will feature a live stream ($) as well as FOSH live stats. For a complete schedule, live coverage links, and more, visit the
tournament site.
INSIDE THE GAME
Game 11: Non-conference
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Invitational
• No. 9/9 UC San Diego (6-4) vs. No. 4/5Â
Pepperdine (9-1)
• Friday, September 22, 3 p.m.
•
Spieker Aquatics Center • Los Angeles, California (
map)
•
Watch ($)Â |
FOSH Live Stats
• All-Time Series Record: Pepperdine leads 59-9-1
• Last Meeting: 9/24/22, Pepperdine wins 12-11 at Stanford
• Last UC San Diego Win: 9/4/21, 17-12 in La Jolla
• Streak: Pepperdine two wins
BATTLE OF THE KINGS SET FOR SEPTEMBER 27
The annual Battle of the Kings game against Loyola Marymount is set for Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at Canyonview Aquatic Center. It's King Triton vs. the king of the jungle Lions during the first week that students return to campus after summer break. Last year's edition saw 1,350 fans pack the venue. Don't miss the excitement and be sure to get your free foam crown at the game!
WATCH US LIVE ON ESPN+
You can watch every home game live on ESPN+ this season. Access the broadcasts onlineÂ
here or on the
team's schedule page.
2023 UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returning (16)
•
Max Abravanel (Jr. ATK)
•
Bennett Axline (So. C)
•
Rhys Bugelli (Jr. ATK)
•
Emiliano Castro (Jr. D)
•
Logan Estes (Jr. GK)
•
Brendon Fezzey (So. D)
•
Kaden Likins (Sr. ATK)
•
Reef Lippa (RS-Fr. ATK)
•
Jack Martin (Jr. C)
•
Trevor Moore (Jr. ATK)
•
Luca Rago (So. D)
•
Franco Scalamandre (RS-Fr. ATK)
•
Collin Tournat (So. ATK)
•
Nikita Valajev (So. GK)
•
Matthew Wastila (So. ATK)
•
Miles Wilson (Jr. ATK)
Newcomers (12)
•
Landon Akerstrom (Fr. ATK)
•
Jaime Bhattacharyya (Fr. ATK)
•
Finn Bugelli (Fr. C)
•
Ante Buzov (Jr. UTL)
•
Felipe Ferreira (Jr. ATK)
•
Parker George (Jr. GK)
•
Alex Hegeman (Fr. GK)
•
Eamon Hennessey (Jr. UTL)
•
Augi Macchi (Jr. D)
•
Mason Presley (Fr. ATK)
•
Nolan Roberts (Fr. ATK)
•
Lucas Romaguera (Jr. ATK)
Lost (12)
•
Manuel Augusto (ATK)
•
Max Carrillo (UTL)
•
Braden Clark (ATK)
•
Konstantin Karlov (UTL)
•
Vedran Latkovic (ATK)
•
Connor Macmitchell (UTL)
•
Connor McManigal (UTL)
•
Brendan Nugent (ATK)
•
Alexander Nemeth (GK)
•
Will Riley (UTL)
•
Connor Stauffer (UTL)
• Jakub Tallman (UTL)
FIRST AND GOALS
On Sept. 14 in La Jolla, UC San Diego defeated Long Beach State 11-10 in overtime in the first Big West game in 32 years.
Rhys Bugelli scored the game-winner at 2:39 of the first overtime period to ice the inaugural victory.
Ante Buzov made his Triton debut a good one, recording a hat trick and adding three steals, three drawn exclusions, and two field blocks.
TRITON DEBUTS
A total of 11 UC San Diego players made their debut for the Tritons in the win against Biola during the Triton Invitational (9/2). Here's a look at the list as well as the stats each newbie put up against the Eagles.
•
Landon Akerstrom: 1 goal, 1 assist
•
Jaime Bhattacharyya: 2 shots, 2 steals
•
Finn Bugelli: 2 goals, 4 shots
•
Emiliano Castro, 1 steal
•
Felipe Ferreira: 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 shots
•
Eamon Hennessey: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 drawn exclusion
•
Reef Lippa: No stats
•
Augi Macchi: No stats
•
Mason Presley: 1 assist, 1 steal
•
Nolan Roberts: 1 goal, 1 assist,Â
•
Lucas Romaguera: 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 shots
RECAPS AND BOX SCORES AND MORE, OH MY!
• 9/15/23:
Stanford 9, UC San Diego 7
• 9/14/23:
Long Beach State 10, UC San Diego 11 (OT)
• 9/10/23:
UC San Diego 15, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 11
• 9/10/23:
UC San Diego 7, #3 UCLA 14
• 9/9/23:
UC San Diego 16, Pomona-Pitzer 5
• 9/9/23:
UC San Diego 18, Cal Lutheran 7
• 9/3/23:
#2 USC 11, UC San Diego 9
• 9/3/23:
#20 Navy 8, UC San Diego 15
• 9/2/23:
#1 California 20, UC San Diego 5
• 9/2/23:
Biola 4, UC San Diego 17
BIG NEWS FROM THE BIG WEST
This season, the Big West will field men's water polo again following a 32-year hiatus. The conference previously sponsored the sport from 1984-91. Joining the Tritons are Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara. With six teams, the conference qualifies for an automatic berth in the NCAA Championship (the 2023 tournament will consist of seven conference champions plus two at-large selections). Original members of the Big West included Fresno State, Long Beach State, Pacific, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara. Two Big West programs boast national championships while competing in the conference, with UC Santa Barbara claiming the Division I men's water polo championship in 1979 while UC Irvine took home national titles in 1982 and 1989.
HOSTING DUTIES GO TO UC SAN DIEGO
UC San Diego is excited to play host to the 2023 Big West Men's Water Polo Championship. The tournament is slated for Nov. 17-19 at Canyonview Aquatic Center. The winner will earn a spot in the NCAA Championship, Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at USC.
| 2023 BIG WESTÂ STANDINGS (through 9/21) |
| Rank |
Team |
Big West |
Overall |
| 1 |
UC San Diego |
1-0 |
6-4 |
| 2 |
Long Beach State |
0-1 |
8-2 |
| - |
UC Davis |
0-0 |
6-3 |
| - |
Cal State Fullerton |
0-0 |
7-5 |
| - |
UC Irvine |
0-0 |
4-3 |
| - |
UC Santa Barbara |
0-0 |
7-6 |
ACTIVE TRITON SCORING STREAKS
(through 9/21/23)
•
Landon Akerstrom 10 games
•
Bennett Axline 10
•
Lucas Romaguera 8
•
Ante Buzov 2
•
Kaden Likins 2
USHA ON TRITONCAST
Just prior to the season kicking off, Triton head coach Matt Ustaszewski was a guest on Tritoncast, UC San Diego's weekly podcast show. He previewed the season and talked about team personnel and expectations for the year. You can hear that interview
here.
RHYS BUGELLI NAMED TO ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM
UC San Diego junior standoutÂ
Rhys Bugelli was named to the 2023 All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team earlier this week. In 2022, the attacker was tabbed All-Western Water Polo Association Second Team after finishing with 61 points, third-most on the Triton roster. His 47 goals were second on the team. Bugelli scored at least once in 22 of 23 games played and netted multiple goals in 13 contests. Defensively, he led the Tritons in steals with 22.
2023 ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM
Logan Anderson, junior attacker, UC Davis
Alex Aznar Beltran, junior utility, UC Davis
Rhys Bugelli, junior attacker, UC San Diego
Evan Cain, sophomore attacker, Long Beach State
Bruno Chiappini, sophomore utility, Long Beach State
Dash McFarland, junior center, UC Santa Barbara
Guillermo Ocasio, senior utility, Long Beach State
Ethan Shipman, junior attacker, UC Irvine
Aaron Wilson, junior goalkeeper, UC Davis
2023 BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. UC Davis, 21 points (2 first-place votes)
T-2. Long Beach State, 19 (2)
T-2. UC Santa Barbara, 19 (1)
4. UC Irvine, 15 (1)
5. UC San Diego, 11
6. Cal State Fullerton, 5
2022 SNAPSHOT
In 2022, UC San Diego's final season as a member of the Western Water Polo Association, the Tritons compiled a 14-13 overall record with a 6-2 mark in conference play. As the third seed at the WWPA Championship at Loyola Marymount, UC San Diego earned a spot in the title game by topping sixth-seeded California Baptist in a quarterfinal and second-seeded LMU in a semifinal. An epic championship match-up ensued, with top-seeded and reigning WWPA champion UC Davis coming away with a narrow, 13-12 victory in overtime. Led by first year head coachÂ
Matt Ustaszewski, UC San Diego was ranked as high as 10th in the nation.
2022 HONOR ROLL
Vedran Latkovic was selected to the All-WWPA First Team,Â
Rhys Bugelli was named to the second team,Â
Alexander Nemeth picked up honorable mention accolades, andÂ
Bennett Axline was chosen as the WWPA Freshman of the Year and named to the WWPA All-Freshman Team. Latkovic also earned All-America Honorable Mention from the ACWPC.
| 2023 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (9/20) |
| Rank |
Team |
Last Poll |
| 1 |
California |
1 |
| 2Â |
UCLAÂ |
2 |
| 3 |
USC |
3 |
| 4 (tie) |
Princeton |
5 |
| 4 (tie) |
Stanford |
6 |
| 4 (tie) |
Pepperdine |
4 |
| 7 |
Pacific |
7 |
| 8 |
UC Davis |
11 (tie) |
| 9 (tie) |
UC San Diego |
14 |
| 9 (tie) |
San Jose State |
10 |
| 11 |
Long Beach State |
8 |
| 12 |
UC Irvine |
9 |
| 13 |
UC Santa Barbara |
11 (tie) |
| 14 |
California Baptist |
11 (tie) |
| 15 (tie) |
Brown |
16 |
| 15 (tie) |
Loyola Marymount |
15 |
| 17 |
Fordham |
17 |
| 18 |
Harvard |
19 |
| 19 (tie) |
Santa Clara |
20 (tie) |
| 19 (tie) |
Navy |
18 |
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2023 CWPA NATIONAL POLL
• Week Three (9/20): 9 (tie)
• Week Two (9/13): 14
• Week One (9/6): 12
• Preseason (8/23): 11 (tie)
| 2023 ACWPCÂ NATIONAL POLL (9/20) |
| Rank |
Team |
Last Poll |
| 1 |
California |
1 |
| 2Â |
UCLAÂ |
2 |
| 3 |
USC |
3 |
| 4 |
Stanford |
4 |
| 5 |
Pepperdine |
6 |
| 6 |
Princeton |
5 |
| 7 |
UC Davis |
8 |
| 8 |
Pacific |
7 |
| 9 |
UC San Diego |
13 |
| 10 |
Long Beach State |
9 |
| 11 (tie) |
UC Irvine |
11 |
| 11 (tie) |
UC Santa Barbara |
10 |
| 13 |
San Jose State |
12 |
| 14 |
California Baptist |
14 |
| 15 |
Navy |
15 |
| 16 |
Fordham |
16 |
| 17 (tie) |
Loyola Marymount |
17 (tie) |
| 17 (tie) |
Brown |
17 (tie) |
| 19 |
Harvard |
20 |
| 20 |
Santa Clara |
19 |
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2023 ACWPCÂ NATIONAL POLL
• Week Three (9/20): 9
• Week Two (9/13): 13
• Week One (9/6): 12
THEY CALL HIM USHA
UC San Diego is led by second-year head coach Matt "Usha" Ustaszewski, who took over in 2022 for Denny Harper, who announced his retirement in July after 42 years at the helm. Ustaszewski earned his first victory as UC San Diego's head coach on Sept. 3, 2022, as the Tritons defeated La Verne, 22-8, in the team's season opener during the Triton Invitational. In 2021, Ustaszewski completed his ninth season as associate head coach and 12th season overall on the UC San Diego men's water polo staff. Usha is no stranger to the La Jolla campus. He was a co-captain of the fifth-ranked Triton water polo team as a senior in 2003 for under the tutelage of Harper. He graduated in 2004, completing his bachelor's degree in history (Europe emphasis) with a 3.5 grade-point average. For Usha's complete bio,
click here.
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire UC San Diego athletics program is currently in the final year of a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of theÂ
Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
GAME DAY HAS GONE DIGITAL
Triton fans can find game day information online as game programs have gone digital! Fans can visitÂ
https://bit.ly/MWPgameday from their smart phone or scan the QR code at the entrance to Canyonview Aquatic Center for everything they need to know about each home game including updated rosters, schedules, and stats for each team, as well as watch and live stats links.
WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became UC San Diego's mascot in 1964.
GET SOCIAL WITH MEN'S WATER POLO
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media throughÂ
Twitter andÂ
Instagram. The team's handle is @ucsdmwp.
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out theÂ
Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories,Â
click here.
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..
