LA JOLLA, Calif. — The annual Battle of the Kings Presented by Duke's La Jolla between No. 12-ranked UC San Diego and No. 15 Loyola Marymount rocks Canyonview Aquatic Center Wednesday.
The game is set for a 6 p.m. start, but get there early. It will surely be full as students are back on campus for the first time this academic year.
The first 100 Triton students get a free foam crown.
LMU has won the past two Battles with UC San Diego last winning it in 2021. The last four meetings have been decided by a single goal.
After Wednesday, the Tritons continue another busy week with two more matches at home. Friday, Concordia will be in La Jolla while unbeaten Pacific comes in Saturday. Both of those games are slated for a 6 p.m. start.
INSIDE THE GAMES
Game 13: Battle of the Kings Presented by Duke's La Jolla
• No. 12/15 UC San Diego (5-7) vs. No. 15/15Â
LMU (3-4)
• Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m. PT
•
Canyonview Aquatic Center • La Jolla, Calif. (
map)
•
Watch Live on ESPN+
•
FOSH Live Stats
•
Tickets
Game 14: Non-Conference
• No. 12/15 UC San Diego (5-7) vs.
Concordia (3-10)
• Friday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m. PT
•
Canyonview Aquatic Center • La Jolla, Calif. (
map)
•
Watch Live on ESPN+
•
FOSH Live Stats
•
Tickets
Game 15: Non-Conference
• No. 12/15 UC San Diego (5-7) vs. No. 5/5
Pacific (8-0)
• Saturday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m. PT
•
Canyonview Aquatic Center • La Jolla, Calif. (
map)
•
Watch Live on ESPN+
•
FOSH Live Stats
•
Tickets
BEHIND THE BATTLE
The Battle of the Kings between UC San Diego and Loyola Marymount is 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 9-8 (there were no match-ups in 2010 and 2020). The Tritons have out-scored the Lions 181-160 over those 16 games.
• 2023: LMU 11, UC San Diego 10 - LMU win
• 2022: LMU 10, UC San Diego 9 (SV) - LMU win
• 2021: LMU 13, UC San Diego 14 - UC San Diego win
• 2020: No game due to COVID
• 2019: LMU 17, UC San Diego 16 - LMU win
• 2018: LMU 12, UC San Diego 22 - UC San Diego win
• 2017: LMU 5, UC San Diego 15 - UC San Diego win
• 2016: LMU 10, UC San Diego 11 - UC San Diego win
• 2015: LMU 13, UC San Diego 12 (SV) - LMU win
• 2014: LMU 2, UC San Diego 7 - UC San Diego win
• 2013: LMU 7, UC San Diego 11 - UC San Diego win
• 2012: LMU 8, UC San Diego 10 - UC San Diego win
• 2011: LMU 12, UC San Diego 10 - LMU win
• 2010: No game
• 2009: LMU 7, UC San Diego 4 - LMU win
• 2008: LMU 12, UC San Diego 11 - LMU win
• 2007: LMU 9, UC San Diego 4 - LMU win
• 2006: LMU 7, UC San Diego 8 - UC San Diego win
• 2005: LMU 5, UC San Diego 7 - UC San Diego win
A NEW ERA FOR TRITON ATHLETICS
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.
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.
THE UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS
Roster |Â
Schedule & Results |Â
Statistics
• Overall: 5-7
• Big West: 0-0
• Home: 3-1
• Away: 0-2
• Neutral: 2-4
• Streak: Lost 6
• Big West Preseason Poll: 3rd of 6
• ACWPC National Ranking: 5
• CWPA National Ranking: 5
THE LOYOLA MARYMOUNTÂ LIONS
Roster |Â
Schedule & Results
• Overall: 3-4
• WCC: 0-0
• Home: 3-3
• Away: 0-1
• Neutral: 0-0
• Streak: Lost 4
• WCC Preseason Poll: 1st of 7
• ACWPC National Ranking: 15
• CWPA National Ranking: 15
THE CONCORDIA EAGLES
Roster |Â
Schedule & Results |
Statistics
• Overall: 3-10
• WWPA: 0-0
• Home: 0-0
• Away: 0-2
• Neutral: 3-8
• Streak: Lost 3
• WWPA Preseason Poll: 2nd of 6
• ACWPC National Ranking: NR
• CWPA National Ranking: NR
2024 UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returning (22)
•
Landon Akerstrom (So. ATK)
•
Bennett Axline (Jr. UTL)
•
Jaime Bhattacharyya (So. UTL)
•
Finn Bugelli (So. UTL)
•
Rhys Bugelli (Sr. UTL)
•
Ante Buzov (Sr. UTL)
•
Logan Estes (Sr. GK)
•
Felipe Ferreira (Sr. ATK)
•
Brendon Fezzey (Jr. UTL)
•
Parker George (Sr. GK)
•
Alex Hegeman (So. GK)
•
Eamon Hennessey (So. UTL)
•
Reef Lippa (RS-So. ATK)
•
Augi Macchi (Sr. UTL)
•
Trevor Moore (Sr. UTL)
•
Mason Presley (So. ATK)
•
Luca Rago (Jr. UTL)
•
Nolan Roberts (So. ATK)
•
Lucas Romaguera (Sr. ATK)
•
Collin Tournat (Jr. ATK)
•
Nikita Valajev (Jr. GK)
•
Matthew Wastila (Jr. ATK)
Newcomers (7)
•
Razvan Alistar (Fr. UTL)
•
Liam Amburgey (Fr. ATK)
•
Christian Hammonds (Fr. ATK)
•
Cole Harman (Fr. ATK)
•
Grant Kurtz (Fr. ATK)
•
Mark Laurlund (R-So. UTL)
•
Lachlan Rossi (Fr. UTL)
Lost (6)
•
Max Abravanel (ATK)
•
Emiliano Castro (D)
•
Kaden Likins (ATK)
•
Jack Martin (C)
•
Franco Scalamandre (ATK)
•
Miles Wilson (ATK)
TRITON DEBUTS
Three Tritons have made their UC San Diego debuts this season:
•
Christian Hammonds: UC Merced, 9/7, 1 goal, 3Â assists, 2 steals
•
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
THE 2024 SEASON ON THE TABLE
1Triton Invitational
2 Princeton Invitational
3 MPSF Invitational
2024Â BIG WESTÂ STANDINGS
(through 9/24) |
| Rank |
Team |
Big West |
Overall |
| 1 |
UC Santa Barbara |
0-0 |
10-4 |
|
Long Beach State |
0-0 |
7-5 |
|
UC San Diego |
0-0 |
5-7 |
|
UC Irvine |
0-0 |
4-5 |
|
Cal State Fullerton |
0-0 |
4-7 |
|
UC Davis |
0-0 |
4-7 |
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.
ACTIVE TRITON SCORING STREAKS (through 9/24)
•
Bennett Axline, 5
•
Collin Tournat, 3
•
Landon Akerstrom, 2
•
Ante Buzov, 2
•
Eamon Hennessey, 2
•
Mark Laurlund, 2
GAME-WINNING GOALS (through 9/24)
•
Brendon Fezzey, 2 (Bucknell, UC Merced)
•
Finn Bugelli, 1 (Pomona-Pitzer)
•
Trevor Moore, 1 (Wagner)
•
Luca Rago, 1 (Iona)
GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 9/24)
TRITON RECORDS (through 9/24)
| Overall |
5-3 |
| Big West |
0-0 |
| Non-conference |
5-3 |
| At home |
3-1 |
| On the road |
0-1 |
| At at neutral site |
2-1 |
| In overtime |
0-0 |
| Scoring 4-6Â goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
3-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
2-0 |
| More steals than opponent |
3-0 |
| Opponent has more steals |
0-1 |
| Steals are even |
0-0 |
| More shots than opponent |
2-0 |
| Opponent has more shots |
1-1 |
| Shots are even |
0-0 |
| More exclusions than opponent |
3-1 |
| Opponent has more exclusions |
2-2 |
| Exclusions are even |
0-0 |
| More field blocks than opponent |
3-1 |
| Opponent has more field blocks |
0-0 |
| Field blocks are even |
0-0 |
| On Wednesdays |
0-0 |
| On Thursdays |
0-0 |
| On Fridays |
2-1 |
| On Saturdays |
2-4 |
| On Sundays |
1-2 |
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.
BENNETT AXLINEÂ NAMED TOÂ BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES'Â 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. .
2024 BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Long Beach State (22 points/3 first-place votes)
2. UC Irvine (21/2)
3. UC San Diego (17/1)
4. UC Davis (13/0)
5. UC Santa Barbara (12/0)
6. Cal State Fullerton (5/0)
2024 CWPA NATIONAL POLL
(9/18) |
| Rank |
Team |
| 1 |
UCLA |
| 2Â |
Stanford |
| 3 |
USC |
| 4 |
Pepperdine |
| 5 |
Pacific |
| 6 |
California |
| 7 |
Princeton |
| 8 |
UC Irvine |
| 9 |
San Jose State |
| T-10 |
Long Beach State |
| T-10 |
Fordham |
| 12 |
UC Davis |
| 13 |
UC Santa Barbara |
| 14 |
Harvard |
| T-15 |
Loyola Marymount |
| T-15 |
UC San Diego |
| 17 |
Navy |
| 18 |
Santa Clara |
| 19 |
Brown |
| 20 |
California Baptist |
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2024 CWPA NATIONAL POLL
• Week Two (9/18): T-15
• Week One (9/11): 11
• Preseason (8/21): 12
2024 ACWPCÂ NATIONAL POLL
(9/18) |
| Rank |
Team |
| 1 |
UCLA |
| 2Â |
Stanford |
| 3 |
USC |
| 4 |
Pepperdine |
| T-5 |
California |
| T-5 |
Pacific |
| 7 |
Princeton |
| 8 |
UC Irvine |
| T-9 |
Fordham |
| T-9 |
Long Beach State |
| T-9 |
San Jose State |
| 12 |
UC San Diego |
| 13 |
UC Davis |
| 14 |
UC Santa Barbara |
| 15 |
Loyola Marymount |
| 16 |
Harvard |
| 17 |
Navy |
| 18 |
Santa Clara |
| 19 |
Brown |
| 20 |
California Baptist |
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2024 ACWPCÂ NATIONAL POLL
• Week Two (9/18): 12
• Week One (9/11): 14
• Preseason (9/4): 12
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 |
5 |
7 |
.417 |
Big West/TBD |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
| 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 |
36 |
33 |
.522 |
- |
- |
- |
.- |
- |
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
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.
