LA JOLLA, Calif. — Week two for No. 12 UC San Diego men's water polo sees the team head to the Inland Empire Classic.
The two-day tournament is being tri-hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, La Verne, and Redlands.
UC San Diego will play four games, two Saturday and two Sunday, at Axelrood Pool on the campus of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (
map). On opening day, the Tritons take on Cal Lutheran (12 pm) and Pomona-Pitzer (5 p.m.). Sunday, they are up against third-ranked UCLA (9:30 a.m.) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (1Â p.m.).
The Tritons last played in the Inland Empire Classic in 2021. They went 1-1, defeating Whittier and falling to UCLA.
All games can be followed with live stats and live video. All links to live coverage can be found on UC San Diego's
season schedule page or on the
tournament website.
INSIDE THE GAMES
Game 5: UC San Diego (2-2)Â vs.
Cal Lutheran (1-2)
•
Inland Empire Classic
• Saturday, September 9, 12 p.m.
•
Axelrood Pool • Claremont, California (
map)
•
Watch |
Live Stats
Game 6: UC San Diego (2-2)Â vs.
Pomona-Pitzer (0-4)
•
Inland Empire Classic
• Saturday, September 9, 5 p.m.
•
Axelrood Pool • Claremont, California (
map)
•
Watch |
Live Stats
Game 7: UC San Diego (2-2)Â vs.
No. 3 UCLAÂ (4-0)
•
Inland Empire Classic
• Sunday, September 10, 9:30 a.m.
•
Axelrood Pool • Claremont, California (
map)
•
Watch |
Live Stats
Game 8: UC San Diego (2-2) at
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (2-1)
•
Inland Empire Classic
• Sunday, September 10, 1 p.m.
•
Axelrood Pool • Claremont, California (
map)
•
Watch |
Live Stats
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.
HOW DID WEEK ONE GO?
UC San Diego opened its season last weekend as host of its annual Triton Invitational. The Tritons compiled a 2-2 record with wins against Biola and No. 20 Navy and losses to No. 1 California and No. 2 USC. Eleven of the 14 teams at the tourney were ranked among the national top-20, including top four squads in the country - Cal, USC, UCLA, and Stanford. For complete results, visit the
tournament microsite.
FELIPE WASTES NO TIME
First-year Triton
Felipe Ferreira jumped right into his role during week one. Over four games during the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, the junior transfer led all UC San Diego players in point production, finishing with 15 on six goals and a team-high nine assists to help the Tritons go 2-2 in a stacked field. He also produced six steals, the second-most on the team. Ferreira's top performance came in a win against No. 20 Navy when he registered five points on two goals and three assists. He also logged two steals against the Midshipmen. In a tight 11-9 loss to No. 2 USC, Ferreira had four points on a goal and three assists while adding a steal. Against California, the No. 1 team in the country and two-time defending national champion, the Brazilian had a goal and two assists plus two steals. Ferreira opened his Triton career Saturday morning with two goals, an assist, and a steal in a 17-4 win over Biola. For his efforts, he earned University Credit Union Athlete of the Week accolades.
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 Maachi: 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!
• 9/3/23:
#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 sponsor men's water polo again following a 22-year hiatus. 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. Two Big West programs boast national championships while competing in the conference, with UC Santa Barbara claiming the school's first-ever Division I championship in 1979 in the sport of men's water polo. UC Irvine took home national titles in 1982 and 1989, as the three crowns contribute part of The Big West's 21 total NCAA team championships.
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 9/8) |
| Rank |
Team |
Big West |
Overall |
| 1 |
UC Davis |
0-0 |
4-0 |
| 2 |
Long Beach State |
0-0 |
3-1 |
| 3 (tie) |
UCÂ Irvine |
0-0 |
2-2 |
| 3 (tie) |
Santa Clara |
0-0 |
2-2 |
| 5 |
UC Santa Barbara |
0-0 |
1-3 |
| 6 |
Cal State Fullerton |
0-0 |
1-4 |
Â
CURRENT TRITON SCORING STREAKS
(through 9/8/23)
•
Landon Akerstrom 4
•
Bennett Axline 4
•
Felipe Ferreira 4
•
Rhys Bugelli 2
•
Lucas Romaguera 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
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)
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 (9/6) |
| Rank |
Team |
Last Poll |
| 1 |
California |
1 |
| 2Â |
USC |
2 |
| 3 |
UCLA |
3 |
| 4 |
UC Davis |
5 |
| 5 |
Pacific |
6 |
| 6 (tie) |
Princeton |
8 |
| 6 (tie) |
Stanford |
4 |
| 8 (tie) |
UC Irvine |
10 |
| 8 (tie) |
Pepperdine |
11 (tie) |
| 8 (tie) |
Long Beach State |
9 |
| 11 |
UC Santa Barbara |
7 |
| 12 |
UC San Diego |
11 (tie) |
| 13 |
Navy |
20 |
| 14 |
Loyola Marymount |
13 |
| 15 |
California Baptist |
17 |
| 16 |
San Jose State |
14 |
| 17 |
Brown |
RV |
| 18 |
Harvard |
18 |
| 19 |
Santa Clara |
16 |
| 20 (tie) |
Fordham |
15 |
| 20 (tie) |
Air Force |
19 |
Â
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2023 NATIONAL POLL
• Week One (9/6): 12
• Preseason (8/23): 11 (tie)
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.
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..
