LA JOLLA, Calif. — The 12th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team kicks off its 2024 season this weekend as it hosts the ultra-competitive Triton Invitational at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla.

The tournament is set for Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8.

A total of 18 teams, the largest field in the event's history, come together and combine for 36 games over the two days. Ten of those squads are ranked among the national top-20, including the top four teams in the country. All six Big West squads will be in the fray - Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara.

#1/1 UCLA
#2/2 California
#3/3 Stanford
#4/4 USC
#7/6 UC Irvine
#8/13 Pepperdine
#9/10 Long Beach State
#10/8 UC Davis
#11/11 UC Santa Barbara
#12/12 UC San Diego
Bucknell
Cal State Fullerton
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Concordia
Pomona-Pitzer
Redlands
UC Merced
Westcliff

* First poll position listed is Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC), second is Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA)

Saturday, the Tritons face off against UC Merced (8 a.m.) and Bucknell (4 p.m.). Sunday, they take on Pomona-Pitzer (2:30 p.m.) and top-ranked UCLA (6;30 p.m.).

For a complete schedule of games, visit the tournament page.

Two-day passes and individual game tickets can be purchased through the Triton Box Office.

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AXLINE NAMED TO ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM
UC San Diego men's water polo was picked to finish third in the 2024 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll while Bennett Axline was selected to the Big West Preseason Coaches' Team. 

UC San Diego garnered 17 points and one first-place vote to capture third. Long Beach State (22 points, three first-place votes) took first with UC Irvine (21/2) second, UC Davis (13) fourth, UC Santa Barbara (12) fifth, and Cal State Fullerton (5) sixth.

In 2023, UC San Diego finished with a 17-13 overall record and a 3-2 mark in its first campaign as a member of the Big West. As the third seed, the Tritons hosted the inaugural Big West Championship. They defeated Cal State Fullerton in the opening round before falling in overtime to UC Santa Barbara in a semifinal. UC San Diego was ranked as high as ninth in the country.

Axline, a junior utility player from Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, was one of seven league standouts named to the 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 Big West Preseason Coaches' Team
Bennett Axline, Utility, UC San Diego
Aleix Aznar Beltran, Utility, UC Davis
Evan Cain, Attacker, Long Beach State
Bruno Chiappini, Utility, Long Beach State
Luka Krstic, Attacker, UC Irvine
Levin Lentin, Goalkeeper, UC Santa Barbara
Jacob Pyle, Goalkeeper, UC Irvine

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2024 TRITON ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returning (22)
• Landon Akerstrom
• Bennett Axline
• Jaime Bhattacharyya
• Finn Bugelli
• Rhys Bugelli
• Ante Buzov
• Logan Estes
• Felipe Ferreira
• Brendon Fezzey
• Parker George
• Alex Hegeman
• Eamon Hennessey
• Reef Lippa
• Augi Macchi
• Trevor Moore
• Mason Presley
• Luca Rago
• Lucas Romaguera
• Nolan Roberts
• Collin Tournat
• Nikita Valajev
• Matthew Wastila

Newcomers (7)
• Razvan Alistar
• Liam Amburgey
• Christian Hammonds
• Cole Harman
• Grant Kurtz
• Mark Laurlund
• Lachlan Rossi

Lost (6)
• Max Abravanel
• Emiliano Castro
• Kaden Likins
• Jack Martin
• Franco Scalamandre
• Miles Wilson
• Miles Wilson

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LAST SEASON AT THE TRITON INVITE
In 2023, UC San Diego posted an even 2-2 record during the Triton Invitational. The Tritons defeated Biola (17-4) and Navy (15-8) while dropping games against No. 1 Cal (20-5) and No. 2 USC (11-9).

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USTASZEWSKI HELPS GUIDE TEAM USA TO BRONZE MEDAL AT PARIS OLYMPICS
The United States Olympic Men's Water Polo Team, along with UC San Diego head coach Matt Ustaszewski, defeated Hungary in a shootout to win a Bronze medal in Paris Olympics.

Ustaszewski served as an assistant coach with the U.S. squad. It was his second trip to the Olympics on staff as he was a video coach at Tokyo 2020.

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Story courtesy of USA Water Polo
The U.S. Men's Olympic Team won their first medal since 2008, claiming Bronze in a thrilling shootout win over Hungary, 11-8.

Down two in the fourth quarter, the United States battled back to for a tie in regulation, sending the match to a shootout. In the shootout the United States dominated. Hannes Daube, Max Irving and Alex Bowen all hit their shots to start for Team USA. Meanwhile, Hungary went off the bar in two of their shots and saw Adrian Weinberg block a third, part of a massive day for Weinberg that witnessed the Olympic rookie pile up 16 saves. Ben Hallock scored two goals to lead a balanced attack on offense.

The win marks the fourth bronze medal in program history, joining 1924 (Paris), 1932 (Los Angeles), and 1972 (Munich).  Click here for more on USA Water Polo at the Paris Olympic Games. 

Johnny Hooper, back from a one-game suspension, made an immediate impact in this one scoring to open the festivities giving Team USA a 1-0 lead on the power play goal. Hungary answered moments later on a power play of their own for a 1-1 match. With 4:32 left Chase Dodd got free inside and had his shot blocked, he battled for the ball and was able to bury a second chance try for a 2-1 lead. Hungary tied the match with :36 left in the period but Hallock had the final word, snagging a pass to the post and hammering the ball for a 3-2 lead after one. 

Both offenses were quiet in the first half of the second quarter until Luca Cupido drilled a power play goal for a 4-2 lead with 4:41 left. Hungary got one back a few minutes later and it was a 4-3 match going into halftime. Hungary made a surge in the third quarter, tying the game in the opening thirty seconds and then going in front at 5-4 with 5:02 to play in the period. Team USA answered right back with Hallock hitting his second goal followed by a Max Irving score and it was quickly a 6-5 lead for the United States with 2:45 to play in the third. That would also be the margin as play moved to the fourth quarter. 

Hungary made one final push in the fourth quarter as they took control scoring three straight goals in the opening 5:38 to tie the match and then go ahead 8-6. Once again, Team USA showed their resolve and began to chip away. With 2:59 to play Alex Bowen converted on a power play and then exactly a minute later it was Hannes Daube with the equalizer for an 8-8 match. Each team had chances over the final two minutes to go in front but time expired with the score knotted and the match moved to a shootout. 

Hungary went bar out on their first and third shots while Weinberg denied the second. Bowen's goal in the third round of the shootout put the pressure on Hungary. After the miss, Team USA erupted in celebration.

The United States went 6/18 on power plays while Hungary went 6/12. Team USA didn't attempt a penalty in regulation and Hungary went 0/1.

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Notes 
• It was the first meeting between the U.S. and Hungary at the 2024 Olympics.
• The United States went 5-3 in Paris with wins over Romania, Montenegro, Croatia, Australia, and Hungary. Losses came against Italy, Greece, and Serbia.
• The last time the USA and Hungary had met was July 25 of 2023 in a quarterfinal at the World Championships in Japan. Hungary eked out a 13-12 win and went on to win its fourth title at the event.
• The United States has won seven Olympic medals over 24 appearances - three Silver (2008 Beijing, 1988 Seoul, 1984 Los Angeles) and four Bronze (2024 Paris, 1972 Munich, 1932 Los Angeles, 1924 Paris).
• The United States placed sixth while Hungary won Bronze at Tokyo 2020.
• For Usha's complete bio, click here.

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POLL POSITIONS

2024 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (Preseason)
Rank	Team
1	UCLA
2	California
3	Stanford
4	USC
5	Princeton
6	Pacific
7	UC Irvine
8	Pepperdine
9	Long Beach State
10	UC Davis
11	UC Santa Barbara
12	UC San Diego
13	San Jose State
14	Loyola Marymount
15	Fordham
16	Harvard
17	California Baptist
18	Navy
19	Santa Clara
20	Brown

 

2024 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (Preseason)
Rank	Team
1	UCLA
2	California
3	Stanford
4	USC
5	Princeton
6	UC Irvine
7	Pacific
8	UC Davis
9	San Jose State
10	Long Beach State
11	UC Santa Barbara
12	UC San Diego
13	Pepperdine
14	Fordham
15	Harvard
16	Loyola Marymount
17	California Baptist
18	Navy
19	Santa Clara
20	Brown

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2023 HONOR ROLL
• Landon Akerstrom: All-Big West Honorable Mention, All-Big West Freshman Team
• Bennett Axline: ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention, All-Big West Second Team
• Logan Estes: All-Big West Honorable Mention
• Felipe Ferreira: All-Big West Honorable Mention
• Kaden Likins: All-Big West Second Team
• Lucas Romaguera: All-Big West Honorable Mention

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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.

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GET SOCIAL WITH MEN'S WATER POLO
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through Twitter and Instagram. The team's handle is @ucsdmwp.

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FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!

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GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, click here.

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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..