LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego men's water polo hosts a Big West game for the first time this season as Cal State Fullerton visits Friday.
First sprint is slated for 6 p.m. at Canyonview Aquatic Center. Tickets are available through the
Triton Box Office.
The Tritons come in at 11-9 overall and 0-1 in Big West play. The Titans are 11-1 and 0-1.Â
In the latest national rankings, UC San Diego is No. 12/14 while Cal State Fullerton is not ranked.
INSIDE THE GAME
Game 21: Big West
• No. 12/14 UC San Diego (11-9, 0-1) vs.
Cal State Fullerton (11-11, 0-1)
• Friday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m. PT
•
Canyonview Aquatic Center • La Jolla, Calif. (
map)
•
Watch Live on ESPN+
•
FOSH Live Stats
•
Tickets
WELCOME TO LA JOLLA!
On Oct. 2, the NCAA announced that UC San Diego will serve as host of the 2026 National Collegiate Finals at Canyonview Aquatic Center. The Tritons last hosted in 2014 as a Division II team. The 2026 event will be the first time they will host as a Division I squad. The NCAA received more than 1,200 bids from member schools, conferences, cities and sports commissions across 47 states and Washington, D.C., all competing to host predetermined rounds for 87 of the NCAA's 90 championships. The respective NCAA sports committees selected the sites, with final approval from the divisional competition oversight and championships committees.
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A NEW ERA BEGINS
A new era begins in 2024-25 for UC San Diego Athletics. Recently completing a four-year NCAA Division I reclassification period (Fall of 2020 through Spring of 2024), all of UC San Diego's programs are now eligible for both conference and NCAA postseason competition. The Tritons had been a member of NCAA Division II since the 2000-01 academic year. Prior to that, they were a Division III program. In the sport of NCAA water polo, Division I and Division II teams compete against one another to earn a bid into the National Collegiate Championship.
CLICK IT FOR TICKETS
Tickets for all home games at Canyonview Aquatic Center are available for purchase through the
Triton Box Office.Â
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.
| ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO |
ABOUT CAL STATE FULLERTON |
| Roster | Schedule | Stats |
Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Overall: 11-9 |
Overall: 11-11 |
| Big West: 0-1 |
Big West:Â 0-1 |
| Home: 6-2 |
Home: 6-4 |
| Away: 2-3 |
Away: 0-1 |
| Neutral: 3-4 |
Neutral: 5-6 |
| Streak: Won 1 |
Streak: Lost 1 |
| Big West Preseason Poll: 3rd of 6 |
Big West Preseason Poll: 6th of 6 |
| ACWPC National Poll: 12 |
ACWPC National Ranking: Not ranked |
| CWPA National Ranking: 14 |
CWPA National Ranking: Not ranked |
AKERSTROMÂ IS THE BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Landon Akerstrom was named the Big West Men's Water Polo Player of the Week Wednesday. Akerstrom continued his scoring ways last week, racking up seven points on six goals and an assist over two road games. In the team's Big West opener, a 12-11 loss at No. 5 UC Irvine, Akerstrom found the net four times, a game-high, while adding a steal and a drawn exclusion. The next night at Loyola Marymount, he registered two goals, an assist, two drawn exclusions, and a steal as the Tritons defeated the Lions 10-3 in Los Angeles. Akerstrom is now the Big West leader in goals scored with 45. He has notched at least one goal in his last 11 games and had multiple goals in eight of those. It is the first Big West weekly honor for Akerstrom, a sophomore attacker from Costa Mesa, Calif. In 2023, he was named All-Big West Honorable Mention and was selected to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
|
TRITON ROSTER BREAKDOWNÂ |
|
| Returners (22) |
Newcomers (7) |
Lost (6) |
| Landon Akerstrom, So., Attacker |
Razvan Alistar, Freshman, Utility |
Max Abravanel, Attacker |
| Bennett Axline, Jr., Utility |
Liam Amburgey, Freshman, Attacker |
Emiliano Castro, Defender |
| Jaime Bhattacharyya, So., Utility |
Christian Hammonds, Freshman, Attacker |
Kaden Likins, Attacker |
| Finn Bugelli, So., Utility |
Cole Harman, Freshman, Attacker |
Jack Martin, Center |
| Rhys Bugelli, Sr., Utility |
Grant Kurtz, Freshman, Attacker |
Franco Scalamandre, Attacker |
| Ante Buzov, Sr., Utility |
Mark Laurlund, RS Sophomore, Utility |
Miles Wilson, Attacker |
| Logan Estes, Sr., Goalie |
Lachlan Rossi, Freshman, Utility |
|
| Felipe Ferreira, Sr., Attacker |
|
|
| Brendon Fezzey, Jr., Utility |
|
|
| Parker George, Sr., Goalie |
|
|
| Alex Hegeman, So, Goalie |
|
|
| Eamon Hennessey, So., Utility |
|
|
| Reef Lippa, So., Attacker |
|
|
| Augi Macchi, Sr., Utility |
|
|
| Trevor Moore, Sr., Utility |
|
|
| Mason Presley, So., Attacker |
|
|
| Luca Rago, Jr., Utility |
|
|
| Nolan Roberts, So., Attacker |
|
|
| Lucas Romaguera, Sr., Attacker |
|
|
| Collin Tournat, Jr., Attacker |
|
|
| Nikita Valajev, Jr., Goalie |
|
|
| Matthew Wastila, Jr., Attacker |
|
|
TRITON DEBUTS
Four Tritons have made their UC San Diego debuts in 2024:
•
Christian Hammonds: UC Merced, 9/7, 1 goal, 3Â assists, 2 steals
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Grant Kurtz: UC Merced, 9/7
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Mark Laurlund: UC Merced, 9/7, 4 assists, 2 steals
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Lachlan Rossi: UC Merced, 9/7, 1 goal, 1 assist, 7 shots, 5 drawn exclusions
ACTIVE SCORING STREAKS (through 10/17)
•
Landon Akerstrom, 11
•
Bennett Axline, 2
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Rhys Bugelli, 2
•
Felipe Ferreira, 2
GAME WINNING GOALS (through 10/17)
•
Brendon Fezzey, 2Â (UC Merced, Bucknell)
•
Lucas Romaguera, 2 (Concordia, Air Force)
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Landon Akerstrom, 1 (Fresno Pacific)
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Finn Bugelli, 1 (Pomona-Pitzer)
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Felipe Ferreira, 1 (LMU 2)
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Augi Macchi, 1 (LMU 1)
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Trevor Moore, 1 (Wagner)
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Luca Rago, 1 (Iona)
•
Bennett Axline, 1 (Chapman)
TOP-10 SCORERS' GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 10/17)
TRITON RECORDS (through 10/17)
| Overall |
11-9 |
| Big West |
0-1 |
| Non-conference |
11-8 |
| At home |
6-2 |
| On the road |
2-3 |
| At at neutral site |
3-4 |
| In overtime |
0-0 |
| Scoring 4-6Â goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-4 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
2-4 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
6-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
3-0 |
| More steals than opponent |
10-0 |
| Opponent has more steals |
0-5 |
| Steals are even |
1-4 |
| More shots than opponent |
7-2 |
| Opponent has more shots |
4-6 |
| Shots are even |
0-1 |
| More exclusions than opponent |
4-6 |
| Opponent has more exclusions |
6-3 |
| Exclusions are even |
1-0 |
| On Mondays |
0-0 |
| On Tuesdays |
0-0 |
| On Wednesdays |
1-0 |
| On Thursdays |
0-0 |
| On Fridays |
5-2 |
| On Saturdays |
3-5 |
| On Sundays |
2-2 |
2024 SEASON ON THE TABLE
1Triton Invitational |Â
2 Princeton Invitational |Â
3 MPSF Invitational |Â
4 Gary Troyer
2024 BIG WEST STANDINGS
(through 10/17) |
| Rank |
Team |
Big West |
Overall |
| 1 |
UC Santa Barbara |
1-0 |
14-6 |
| 1 |
UC Irvine |
1-0 |
10-7 |
| 1 |
UC Davis |
1-0 |
7-9 |
| 4 |
Long Beach State |
0-1 |
13-8 |
| 4 |
UC San Diego |
0-1 |
11-9 |
| 4 |
Cal State Fullerton |
0-1 |
11-11 |
BIG WEST MEN'S WATER POLO
In 2023, the Big West sponsored men's water polo again following a 32-year hiatus. The conference previously offered 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. UC San Diego hosted the first Big West Championship in 2023, which was won by UC Irvine. 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.
FIRST AND GOALS
On Sept. 14, 2023 in La Jolla, UC San Diego defeated Long Beach State 11-10 in overtime in the first Big West game since 1991.
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.
| ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (10/16) |
CWPA NATIONAL POLL (10/16) |
BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL |
| 1. Stanford |
1. Stanford |
1. Long Beach State |
| 2. UCLA |
2. UCLA |
2. UC Irvine |
| 3. USC |
3.USC |
3. UC San Diego |
| 4. Pacific |
4. Pacific |
4. UC Davis |
| 5. Fordham |
t-5. Fordham |
5.UC Santa Barbara |
| 6. Long Beach State |
t-5. Pepperdine |
6. Cal State Fullerton |
| 7. Princeton |
7. Princeton |
|
| t-8. California |
8.Long Beach State |
|
| t-8. Pepperdine |
t-9. California |
|
| 10. UC Irvine |
t-9. UC Irvine |
|
| 11. UC Davis |
11. Harvard |
|
| t-12. Harvard |
12. UC Davis |
|
| t-12. UC San Diego |
13. San Jose State |
|
| 14. San Jose State |
14. UC San Diego |
|
| t-15. California Baptist |
15. California Baptist |
|
| t-15. UC Santa Barbara |
16. UC Santa Barbara |
|
| 17. Loyola Marymount |
17. Santa Clara |
|
| 18. Santa Clara |
18. Loyola Marymount |
|
| t-19. Brown |
19. Brown |
|
| t-19. Navy |
20. Navy |
|
|
|
|
| UCSD: 12, 14, 12, 14, 13, 13, 12 |
UCSD: 12, 11, 15, 16, 13, 15, 14 |
|
RETURN OF THE KINGS
After a two-year span without the title, UC San Diego reclaimed it Sept. 25Â with a 12-9 win over LMU in the annual Battle of the Kings game. The Tritons scored seven of the game's first eight goals and never gave up the lead.
Bennett Axline registered a hat trick while
Luca Rago added a pair.
Landon Akerstrom,
Ante Buzov,
Felipe Ferreira,
Mark Laurlund,
Augi Macchi,
Mason Presley, and
Lucas Romaguera all netted single goals. Laurlund added three assists while Ferreira, Laurlund, and Romaguera each had a pair of helpers.Â
Logan Estes had nine saves in net for the Tritons.
Typically held in La Jolla during the first week that UC San Diego students return to campus, it has taken place on a Wednesday evening every year since 2012. Going back to 2005, UC San Diego leads the series 10-8 (there were no match-ups in 2010 and 2020). The Tritons have out-scored the Lions 193-169 over those 18 games.
USHA HELPS LEAD TEAM USA TO BRONZE AT PARIS OLYMPICS
UC San Diego head coach Matt Ustaszewski is fresh off helping the United States win a Bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. He was serving as an assistant coach and it was his second trip to the Olympics (Tokyo 2020) with the team.
Click here to read the complete story. UShA recently recorded a Tritoncast interview where he previewed the Tritons' 2024 season and talked about his time in Paris. You can listen to that interview
here.
AXLINE NAMED TO BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM
UC San Diego junior utility
Bennett Axline (Rancho Bernardo, Calif.), was one of seven league standouts named to the 2024 Big West Preseason Coaches' team. Axline earned Association of Collegiate Water Polo All-America Honorable Mention and All-Big West Second Team accolades in 2023. Playing in all 30 of the team's games, he led the Tritons in goals (59), shots (116), and drawn exclusions (83). Among Big West players, he ranked fifth in goals and sixth in goals/game (2.0) and steals (31). Axline scored at least once in 25 of 30 games and had multiple goals in 16, including nine hat tricks. .
THEY CALL HIM USHA
UC San Diego is led by third-year head coach Matt "Usha" Ustaszewski, who took over in 2022 when Denny Harper retired 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 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.
Â
| Season |
Wins |
Losses |
Pct. |
Conference/Finish |
Wins |
Losses |
Pct. |
Highest NCAA Rank |
| 2024 |
11 |
9 |
.550 |
Big West/TBD |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
- |
| 2023 |
17 |
13 |
.567 |
Big West/3rd of 6 |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
9 (ACWPC), 9 (CWPA) |
| 2022 |
14 |
13 |
.519 |
WWPA/3rd of 8 |
6 |
2 |
.750 |
10 (CWPA) |
| Totals |
42 |
35 |
.545 |
- |
- |
- |
.- |
- |
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 THE TRITONS
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media throughÂ
Twitter andÂ
Instagram. The team's handle is @ucsdmwp.
FOR THE YOUNGER FANS
Have some young Triton fans in your family? If they are in 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.
