IRVINE, Calif. — The UC San Diego men's water polo team cruised to a 19-9 non-conference victory against Concordia Friday night at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Orange County.
The Tritons improved to 9-7 while the Golden Eagles dropped to 4-8.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego out-scored Concordia in all four quarters, going 4-3 in the first, 3-1 in the second, 6-2 in the third, and 6-3 in the fourth.
The Brothers Bugelli accounted for five goals, with freshman Finn netting three and junior Rhys scoring twice.
Three other Tritons registered hat tricks including
Landon Akerstrom,
Eamon Hennessey, and
Lucas Romaguera.
Senior
Kaden Likins assisted on four goals, equaling his career high for a single game.
Nikita Valajev got the start in net and played the first half, earing the win, the first of the sophomore's career.
Logan Estes took over the net-minding duties in the second half.
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WHAT HEAD COACH MATT USTASZEWSKI HAD TO SAY
"It was a great environment playing on the road against a team in its home opener. We played well tonight and are prepared for some great challenges ahead this weekend at the inaugural Big West/West Coast Conference tournament."
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TRITON TIDBITS
• UC San Diego is now 9-1 all-time against Concordia.
• The Golden Eagles' win against the Tritons came in 2013.
• Concordia is an NCAA Division II team that competes in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA), UC San Diego's former conference.
• 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 stays in Orange County for the Big West/WCC Clash, hosted by UC Irvine. Saturday, the Tritons take on UC Santa Barbara (10:45 a.m.) and San Jose State (4:30 p.m.). Sunday, they play UC Davis (8 a.m.) and an opponent that will be determined by tournament results. Saturday's games will be at Anteater Aquatics Complex on the campus of UC Irvine, while Sunday's games will take place at Tustin High School.
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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.
