LA JOLLA, Calif. — It's off to the Big West Championship this week for the UC San Diego men's water polo team, which heads to UC Davis as the No. 2 seed in the six-team tournament.
The Tritons, who earned a first round bye due to their seeding, will face host and third-seeded UC Davis Saturday at 2 p.m. The game can be followed live with FOSH Live Stats (link TBA).
The last eight games between UC San Diego and UC Davis have been decided by a single goal. Each team has won four and each team has scored 87 goals over that span.
Friday, the Aggies defeated Cal State Fullerton, the sixth seed, 13-11 to grab their spot in the semis.Â
In Friday's opening first round contest, No. 5Â Long Beach State upset No. 4 UC Santa Barbara, 12-9. The Beach goes up against top-seeded UC Irvine Saturday at noon.Â
The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at noon. The winner earns an automatic berth in the National Collegiate Championship, hosted by Stanford Dec. 6-8.
INSIDE THE GAME
Game 28: Big West Championship Semifinal
• No. 2 UC San Diego (16-11) vs. No. 3
UC Davis (10-13)
• Saturday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m. PT
•
Schaal Aquatics Center • Davis, Calif. (
map)
•
Championship website
•
Tickets
• FOSH Live Stats (link TBA)
TRITONS GRAB NO. 2 SEED FOR BIG WESTÂ CHAMPIONSHIP
Eamon Hennessey scored with one second remaining in the game to lift 12th-ranked UC San Diego over No. 11 UC Davis, 12-11, on Sept. 9 at Schaal Aquatics Center. With the win, the Tritons secured the No. 2 seed in the upcomingÂ
Big West Championship.
2024 BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
| First Round - Friday, November 22 |
|
| Game 1: No. 4 UC Santa Barbara 9, No. 5 Long Beach State 12 |
12 PM |
| Game 2: No. 3 UC Davis 13, No. 6 Cal State Fullerton 11 |
2 PM |
|
|
| Semifinals - Saturday, November 23 |
|
| Game 3: No. 1 UC Irvine vs. No. 5 Long Beach State |
12 PM |
| Game 4: No. 2 UC San Diego vs. No. 3 UC Davis |
2 PM |
|
|
| Championship - Sunday, November 24 |
|
| Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 |
2 PM |
Visit the tournament site
here.
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Serving as host for the inaugural Big West Championship in 2023, UC San Diego came in as the No. 3 seed. The Tritons took down sixth-seeded Cal State Fullerton in the first round. Moving on to the semifinals, UC San Diego was edged by No. 2 UC Santa Barbara, 13-11, in overtime. In the championship match-up, top seed UC Irvine defeated the Gauchos, 11-9, to win the title.
Â
| 11/18/23 |
 No. 2 UC Santa Barbara 13, No. 3 UC San Diego 11, (OT) |
Loss |
Semifinal |
La Jolla, Calif. |
Box |
Recap |
| 11/17/23 |
 No. 3 UC San Diego 16, No. 6 Cal State Fullerton 5 |
Win |
 First Round |
La Jolla, Calif. |
Box |
Recap |
TRITON GOAL LEADERS IN THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
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.
SENIORNIGHTIS
Eleven Tritons were honored prior to the start of the Senior Night game on Nov. 14.
• #1
Logan Estes
• #1A
Parker George
• #2
Collin Tournat
• #3
Eamon Hennessey
• #4
Ante Buzov
• #5
Rhys Bugelli
• #6
Felipe Ferreira
• #7
Lucas Romaguera
• #8
Trevor Moore
• #9
Augi Macchi
• #10
Matthew Wastila
| ABOUT THE UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS |
ABOUT THE UC DAVIS AGGIESÂ |
| Roster | Schedule | Stats |
Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Overall: 16-11 |
Overall: 10-13 |
| Big West: 3-2 |
Big West: 3-2 |
| Home: 10-2 |
Home: 3-6 |
| Away: 3-5 |
Away: 3-2 |
| Neutral: 3-4 |
Neutral: 4-5 |
| Streak: Won 1 |
Streak: Won 1 |
| Big West Preseason Poll: 3rd of 6 |
Big West Preseason Poll: 4th of 6 |
| ACWPC National Poll: 11 |
ACWPC National Ranking: 12 |
| CWPA National Ranking: 11 |
CWPA National Ranking: 12 |
| UC SAN DIEGO |
AGAINST UC DAVIS |
| Overall |
4-4 |
| In La Jolla |
1-1 |
| In Davis |
2-0 |
| At a Neutral Site |
1-3 |
| First Meeting |
9/4/21: UCD 13, UCSD 12 (SV) at Berkeley |
| Last Meeting |
11/9/24: UCSD 12, UCD 11 at Davis |
| Last UCD Win |
10/1/23: UCD 13, UCSD 12 at Tustin |
| In Overtime |
0-2 |
| Goals For |
87 |
| Goals Against |
87 |
* NCAA Division 1 only (2021-present)
|
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 |
|
|
TRITONS TAKE DOWN UCSB FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2014
On Nov. 1 in La Jolla, UC San Diego defeated UC Santa Barbara by a score of 16-8 in a Big West match-up. It was the first win for the Tritons over the Gauchos since Oct. 12 of 2014 (9-4 in Los Angeles). UC Santa Barbara had won the previous 10 games. Four of those were in La Jolla, four were in Santa Barbara, and two were at neutral sites. Three went to overtime. One of the three match-ups in 2023 was a Big West Championship semifinal in La Jolla.
FAMILY CONNECTION
Finn Bugelli picked up his first career assist on Nov. 1 against UC Santa Barbara in La Jolla. Who did he dish it to? His older brother, Rhys, who took the pass and scored on a power play at the 3:36 mark of the third quarter.
Read a feature story about the Bugelli Brothers here.
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
•
Grant Kurtz: UC Merced, 9/7
•
Mark Laurlund: UC Merced, 9/7, 4 assists, 2 steals
•
Lachlan Rossi: UC Merced, 9/7, 1 goal, 1 assist, 7 shots, 5 drawn exclusions
ACTIVE SCORING STREAKS (through 11/22)
•
Felipe Ferreira, 9
•
Lucas Romaguera, 8
•
Eamon Hennessey, 6
•
Trevor Moore, 3
•
Bennett Axline, 2
•
Rhys Bugelli, 2
•
Brendon Fezzey, 2
•
Grant Kurtz, 2
•
Mason Presley, 2
GAME WINNING GOALS (through 11/22)
•
Lucas Romaguera, 3 (Concordia, Air Force, UCSB)
•
Landon Akerstrom, 2 (Fresno Pacific, Whittier)
•
Brendon Fezzey, 2Â (UC Merced, Bucknell)
•
Augi Macchi, 2 (LMU 1, Westcliff)
•
Finn Bugelli, 1 (Pomona-Pitzer)
•
Rhys Bugelli, 1 (Cal State Fullerton)
•
Felipe Ferreira, 1 (LMU 2)
•
Eamon Hennessey, 1 (UC Davis)
•
Trevor Moore, 1 (Wagner)
•
Luca Rago, 1 (Iona)
•
Bennett Axline, 1 (Chapman)
TOP SCORERS' GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 11/22)
TRITON RECORDS (through 11/22)
| Overall |
16-11 |
| Big West |
3-2 |
| Non-conference |
13-9 |
| At home |
10-2 |
| On the road |
3-5 |
| At at neutral site |
3-4 |
| In overtime |
0-1 |
| Scoring 4-6Â goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-4 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
3-6 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
1-0 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
7-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
1-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
4-0 |
| More steals than opponent |
13-2 |
| Opponent has more steals |
2-5 |
| Steals are even |
1-4 |
| More shots than opponent |
10-4 |
| Opponent has more shots |
6-6 |
| Shots are even |
0-1 |
| More exclusions than opponent |
6-6 |
| Opponent has more exclusions |
9-5 |
| Exclusions are even |
1-0 |
| On Wednesdays |
1-0 |
| On Thursdays |
1-0 |
| On Fridays |
7-3 |
| On Saturdays |
5-5 |
| On Sundays |
2-3 |
2024 SEASON ON THE TABLE
*Big West |Â
1Triton Invitational |Â
2Â Princeton Invitational |Â
3Â MPSF Invitational |Â
4 Gary Troyer
2024 BIG WEST STANDINGS
(through 11/22) |
| Team |
Big West |
Overall |
| UC Irvine |
5-0 |
18-8 |
| UC San Diego |
3-2 |
16-11 |
| UC Davis |
3-2 |
10-13 |
| UC Santa Barbara |
2-3 |
15-12 |
| Long Beach State |
2-3 |
18-10 |
| Cal State Fullerton |
0-5 |
11-18 |
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 (TBD) |
CWPA NATIONAL POLL (11/20) |
BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL |
| 1. UCLA |
1. UCLA |
1. Long Beach State |
| 2. Stanford |
2. Stanford |
2. UC Irvine |
| 3. USC |
t-3. Fordham |
3. UC San Diego |
| 4. Fordham |
t-3. USC |
4. UC Davis |
| 5. Pacific |
5. Pacific |
5.UC Santa Barbara |
| t-6. California |
6. Princeton |
6. Cal State Fullerton |
| t-6. Long Beach State |
7. California |
|
| 8. Princeton |
t-8.Long Beach State |
|
| 9. UC Irvine |
t-8. Pepperdine |
|
| 10. Pepperdine |
t-8. UC Irvine |
|
| 11. UC San Diego |
11. UC San Diego |
|
| 12. UC Davis |
12. UC Davis |
|
| 13. San Jose State |
13. San Jose State |
|
| 14. UC Santa Barbara |
14. UC Santa Barbara |
|
| 15. Harvard |
15. Harvard |
|
| 16. California Baptist |
16. California Baptist |
|
| 17. Santa Clara |
17. Santa Clara |
|
| 18. Loyola Marymount |
18. Brown |
|
| 19. Brown |
19. Loyola Marymount |
|
| 20. Navy |
20. Navy |
|
|
|
|
| UCSD: 12, 14, 12, 14, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12, 12, 11, 11 |
UCSD: 12, 11, 15, 16, 13, 15, 14, 14, 13, 12, 10, 11 |
|
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 |
16 |
11 |
.593 |
Big West/TBD |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
- |
| 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 |
46 |
37 |
.554 |
- |
- |
- |
.- |
- |
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.
