LA JOLLA, Calif. — The UC San Diego men's water polo team scored seven of the game's first eight goals en route to a 12-9 victory against LMU Wednesday.

A capacity crowd filled Canyonview Aquatic Center as it was the annual Battle of the Kings (King Triton vs. Lions) game between the two squads.

UC San Diego regained the title as LMU had won it in 2023 and 2022.

The Tritons snapped a six-game losing streak with the win and are now 6-7 on the season. The Lions moved to 3-5.

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HOW IT HAPPENED
Getting on it early and often, UC San Diego held a 6-1 lead after the opening quarter. Bennett Axline and Luca Rago had two goals apiece during that run, which lasted into the second period.

The second quarter saw the Lions win their first, and only, period.

Axline kicked off the scoring at 6:03. In response, LMU scored four-consecutive goals to get back within two at 7-5 with 2:17 left in the half. Abel Romero Corbalan accounted for two goals in that spurt

UC San Diego's Mark Laurlund closed the second-quarter scoring while Felipe Ferreira opened the third quarter with a goal just 25 seconds in. Just two total goals were scored in the third. LMU's Richie Rimlinger netted the second on a power play with 2:52 on the clock.

Heading into the final quarter with UC San Diego ahead 9-6, the teams would equal one another again, both finding the net three times in the last eight minutes. Augi Macchi, Axline, and Lucas Romaguera scored for the Tritons.

Triton goalie Logan Estes made nine saves in the win. 

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HIGHLIGHT REEL


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INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH MATT USTASZEWSKI


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BATTLE HISTORY
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 10-8 (there were no match-ups in 2010 and 2020). The Tritons have out-scored the Lions 193-172 over those 16 games.

• 2024: LMU 9, UC San Diego 12 - UC San Diego win
• 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

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UP NEXT
UC San Diego continues another busy week by hosting two more matches. Friday, the Tritons welcome Concordia and Saturday Pacific is in town. Tickets can be purchased through the Triton Box Office.

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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.