LA JOLLA, Calif. — The fourth-seeded UC San Diego men's water polo team will face off against UC Irvine, the fifth seed, Friday in the first round of the Big West Championship.
The game is set for a noon start on Nov. 21 at UC Irvine's Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine.
The winner of Friday's contest advances to the semifinals and will take on top-seeded Long Beach State Saturday at noon.
The Tritons are ranked 13th in the Nov. 19 Collegiate Water Polo Association national poll, while the Anteaters are 15th.
UC San Diego brings in a 2-3 (.400) Big West record. The Tritons have gone 20-9 (.690) overall, the most wins and best win percentage of any team in the conference. UC Irvine also went 2-3 (.400) in Big West games and has posted a 15-11 (.577) overall mark.Â
The Tritons defeated the Anteaters, 9-8, in early November in La Jolla (
recap/box score).
In Friday's other first round match, No. 3 seed UC Davis goes up against No. 6 seed Cal State Fullerton at 2pm in Irvine. The winner will meet UC Santa Barbara, the second seed, Saturday at 2 p.m.Â
The title bout is slated for Sunday at noon with the conference champion earning a spot in the NCAA National Collegiate Championship.
All games can be followed with
FOSH Live Stats. The semifinals and final will be broadcast live by
ESPN+.
INSIDE THE GAME
Game 30: Big West Championship First Round
• #4 seed UC San Diego (20-9) vs. #5 seedÂ
UC Irvine (15-11)
• Friday, November 21, 12 p.m.
•
Anteater Aquatics Complex
•
Tickets
•
Tournament Central
•
FOSH Live Stats
BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
First Round: Friday, Nov. 21
Game 1: #4 UC San Diego vs. #5 UC Irvine, 12 p.m. (
FOSH Live Stats)
Game 2: #3 UC Davis vs. #6 Cal State Fullerton, 2 p.m. (
FOSH Live Stats)
Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 22
Game 3: #1 Long Beach State vs. Winner Game 1, 12 p.m. (
FOSHÂ Live Stats |
ESPN+)
Game 4: #2 UC Santa Barbara vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m. (
FOSH Live Stats |
ESPN+)
Final: Sunday, Nov. 23
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 12 p.m. (
FOSH Live Stats |
ESPN+)
UC SAN DIEGO AT THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Overall: 2-2 | First Round: 1-0 | Semifinals: 1-1 | Final: 0-1 | Goals For: 48 | Goals Against: 36
• 11/24/24 (Final):
Long Beach State10, UC San Diego 8
• 11/23/24 (Semifinal):
UC San Diego 13, UC Davis 8
---
• 11/18/23 (Semifinal):
UC Santa Barbara 13, UC San Diego 11 (OT)
• 11/17/23 (First Round):
UC San Diego 16, Cal State Fullerton 5
CURRENT TRITONS AT THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Goals
10:
Bennett Axline
6:
Ante Buzov,
Lucas Romaguera
4.
Landon Akerstrom,
Felipe Ferreira,
Eamon Hennessey
3.
Mason Presley
2.
Luca Rago
1.
Finn Bugelli,
Brendon Fezzey,
Mark Laurlund
Assists
7:
Mark Laurlund
5:
Lucas Romaguera,
Felipe Ferreira
2:
Eamon Hennessey,
Mason Presley,
Luca Rago
1:
Bennett Axline,
Finn Bugelli,
Ante Buzov,
Brendon Fezzey,
Christian Hammonds
Points:
11:
Bennett Axline (10G, 1A)
11:
Lucas Romaguera (6G, 5A)
9:
Felipe Ferreira (4G, 5A)
8:
Mark Laurlund (1G, 7A)
7:
Ante Buzov (6G, 1A)
6:
Eamon Hennessey (4G, 2A)
5:
Mason Presley (3G, 2A)
4:
Landon Akerstrom (4G),
Luca Rago (2G, 2A)
2:
Finn Bugelli (1G, 1A),
Brendon Fezzey (1G, 1A)
1:
Christian Hammonds (1A)
2025 SEASON ON THE TABLE
Â
|
TRITON ROSTER BREAKDOWN |
|
| Returners (21) |
Newcomers (6) |
Lost (8) |
| Landon Akerstrom, Jr., Attacker |
Kyson Becker, Fr., Attacker |
Rhys Bugelli, Utility |
| Razvan Alistar, RS-Fr., Utility |
Jackson Boettner, Fr., Attacker |
Logan Estes, Goalie |
| Liam Amburgey, RS-Fr., Attacker |
Dusan Djordjevic, Fr., Utility |
Parker George, Goalie |
| Bennett Axline, Sr., Utility |
Caleb Harrison, Fr., Utility |
Augi Macchi, Utility |
| Jaime Bhattacharyya, RS-So., Utility |
Winston Loh, Sr., Goalie |
Trevor Moore, Utility |
| Finn Bugelli, Jr., Utility |
Davidka Skov, Fr., Utility |
Collin Tournat, Attacker |
| Ante Buzov, Sr., Utility |
|
Nikita Valajev, Goalie |
| Felipe Ferreira, Grad, Attacker |
|
Matthew Wastila, Attacker |
| Brendon Fezzey, Sr., Utility |
|
|
| Christian Hammonds, So., Attacker |
|
|
| Cole Harman, RS-Fr., Attacker |
|
|
| Alex Hegeman, RS-Fr., Goalie |
|
|
| Eamon Hennessey, Sr., Utility |
|
|
| Grant Kurtz, So., Attacker |
|
|
| Mark Laurlund, Jr., Utility |
|
|
| Reef Lippa, RS-Jr., Attacker |
|
|
| Mason Presley, Jr., Attacker |
|
|
| Luca Rago, Sr., Utility |
|
|
| Nolan Roberts, Jr., Attacker |
|
|
| Lucas Romaguera, Sr., Attacker |
|
|
| Lachlan Rossi, So., Utility |
|
SENIOR DAY
Ten senior Tritons were celebrated prior to the team's final home game on Nov. 8
#1
Nikita Valajev
#1
Winston Loh
#3
Eamon Hennessey
#4
Ante Buzov
#6
Felipe Ferreira
#7
Lucas Romaguera
#8
Mark Laurlund
#11
Luca Rago
#12
Bennett Axline
#13
Brendon Fezzey
BIG WEST MEN'S WATER POLO
In 2023, the Big West began sponsoring men's water polo again following a 32-year hiatus. The conference previously offered the sport from 1984-91. Joining the Tritons in the conference 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's National Collegiate 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 title in 1979 while UC Irvine took home the top prize in 1982 and 1989.
2025 BIG WEST RECORDSÂ (through 11/20)
| Team |
Big West |
% |
Overall |
% |
| Long Beach State |
5-0 |
1.000 |
16-8 |
.667 |
| UC Santa Barbara |
3-2 |
.600 |
17-13 |
.567 |
| UC Davis |
3-2 |
.600 |
12-12 |
.500 |
| UC San Diego |
2-3 |
.400 |
20-9 |
.690 |
| UC Irvine |
2-3 |
.400 |
15-11 |
.577 |
| Cal State Fullerton |
0-5 |
.000 |
17-15 |
.531 |
Â
TRITONS AMONG BIG WEST LEADERS (through 11/20)
Â
| 2025 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (11/20) |
2025 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (11/19) |
2025 BIG WEST COACHES' PRESEASON POLL |
| 1. UCLA |
1. UCLA |
1. Long Beach State, 29 (5) |
| 2. USC |
2. USC |
2. UC San Diego, 20 (1) |
| 3. Stanford |
3. Stanford |
3. UCÂ Irvine, 18 |
| 4. California |
4. California |
4. UC Davis, 13 |
| 5. Fordham |
5. Fordham |
5.UC Santa Barbara, 9 |
| 6. Long Beach State |
6. Pacific |
6. Cal State Fullerton, 6 |
| 7. San Jose State |
7. Long Beach State |
|
| 8. Pepperdine |
8. UC Davis |
2025 BIG WEST COACHES' PRESEASON TEAM |
| 9. UC Davis |
9. San Jose State |
Gabi Acosta, Long Beach State |
| 10. LMU |
10. Pepperdine |
Landon Akerstrom, UC San Diego |
| 11. UC San Diego |
11. LMU |
Felipe Ferreira, UC San Diego |
| 12. Pacific |
12. UC Santa Barbara |
Caleb Francisco, Long Beach State |
| 13. UC Santa Barbara |
13. UC San Diego |
Thomas Kiesling, UC Davis |
| 14. UC Irvine |
14. Princeton |
Luka Krstic, UC Irvine |
| 15. Princeton |
t-15. California Baptist |
Jack Stevens, UC Irvine |
| 16. California Baptist |
t-15. UC Irvine |
Brock Zamanian, UC Santa Barbara |
| 17. Santa Clara |
17. Santa Clara |
|
| 18. Harvard |
18. Harvard |
|
| 19. Navy |
19. Brown |
|
| 20. Brown |
20. Navy |
|
|
|
|
| UCSD:Â 12,13,13,8,7,6,7,8,8,10,10,11 |
UCSD: 12,13,13,14,7,7,6,7,10,10,10,13,13 |
|
POLL POSITION
UC San Diego has been ranked as high as No. 6 this season in both the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national polls. The last time the Tritons were slotted higher was in 2018 when they came at No. 5.
ACTIVE SCORING STREAKS (through 11/20)
• 3:
Finn Bugelli
• 2:
Felipe Ferreira
GAME WINNING GOALS (through 11/20)
• 4:
Christian Hammonds, (UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Princeton 1, McKendree)
• 3:
Felipe Ferreira, (George Washington, La Verne, Pomona-Pitzer)
• 3:
Eamon Hennessey, (UC Davis, Concordia 2, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps)
• 2:
Bennett Axline, (LMU, Princeton 2)
• 2:
Luca Rago, (Cal Lutheran, Occidental)
• 1:
Jaime Bhattacharyya (Biola 2)
• 1:
Ante Buzov, (LMU 2)
• 1:
Grant Kurtz, (Biola 1)
• 1:
Mark Laurlund, (Concordia 1)
• 1:
Luca Rago, (California Baptist)
• 1:
Lucas Romaguera, (Chapman)
TOP TRITON SCORERS GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 11/20)
TRITON RECORDS (through 11/20)
| Overall |
20-9 |
| Big West |
2-3 |
| Non-conference |
18-6 |
| At home |
7-6 |
| On the road |
5-2 |
| At at neutral site |
8-1 |
| In overtime |
1-1 |
| Scoring 0-3 goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 4-6Â goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
1-3 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
2-3 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
8-1 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
3-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
3-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
3-0 |
| More shots than opponent |
18-6 |
| Opponent has more shots |
2-2 |
| Shots are even |
0-1 |
| More steals than opponent |
16-5 |
| Opponent has more steals |
2-4 |
| Steals are even |
2-0 |
| More exclusions than opponent |
9-1 |
| Opponent has more exclusions |
9-8 |
| Exclusions are even |
2-0 |
| On Wednesdays |
1-0 |
| On Thursdays |
2-0 |
| On Fridays |
9-2 |
| On Saturdays |
6-4 |
| On Sundays |
2-3 |
WIN STREAK STOPPED AT SEVEN
With UC San Diego's loss at UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 11, the Tritons had their season long seven game win streak snapped. It was the team's longest run since 2019 when it won 11 straight. This season's streak began on Sept. 20 at LMU and also featured wins against UC Davis, LMU for a second time, Biola, California Baptist, McKendree, and Pomona-Pitzer.
A
XLINE EARNS FIRST BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
On September 24,Â
Bennett Axline  was named the Big West Men's Water Polo Player of the Week. Over five games the previous week, the senior led UC San Diego to a 4-1 record with all four victories coming against teams ranked in the national top-20. Axline totaled 14 points off 13 goals and an assist while also ringing up 19 drawn exclusions. He scored multiple goals in four of five outings with his five against Princeton one short of his career-high. In addition, he netted the game-winner against LMU. Axline's performances helped the Tritons finish fifth in the 16-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Invitational in Los Angeles. It is the first career Big West Player of the Week honor for Axline.
HOW MANY GOALS?!?!?!
UC San Diego defeated Chapman, 26-7, on September 12 in Orange County. The 26 goals are the most scored by the Tritons since Sept. 22, 2012, when they downed Occidental 27-1.
UC SAN DIEGO ACCEPTS OFFER TO JOIN WEST COAST CONFERENCE
On Sept. 3, 2025, UC San Diego accepted a formal invitation to join the
West Coast Conference (WCC) and will begin competing in the conference starting with the 2027-28 season. In 2027-28, the WCC membership will consist of: University of California San Diego, Loyola Marymount University, University of the Pacific, Pepperdine University, University of Portland, Saint Mary's College, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Seattle University. UC San Diego will become the first public institution in the West Coast Conference since the departure of the University of Nevada-Reno in 1979.
Read the complete press release here
TRITONS TO HOST 2026 NCAA NATIONAL COLLEGIATE MEN'S WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
In October of 2024 the NCAA announced that UC San Diego will serve as host of the 2026 National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship 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.
Read the complete press conference here
HOME COOKING FOR USTASZEWSKI
On September 21 in La Jolla, UC San Diego defeated LMU, 14-9, in the annual Battle of the Kings. That win was the 60th of head coach Matt Ustaszewski's career. With a 20-3 win against Occidental on August 30 during the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Ustaszewski picked up his 50th career victory. Coming into the 2025 campaign he owned 48 wins, collecting 17 in both 2024 and 2023 and 14 in 2022.
DEBUT REVIEW
Nine UC San Diego players made their career debuts during the season-opening Triton Invitational in La Jolla -
Razvan Alistar (returner),
Liam Amburgey (returner),
Kyson Becker (first-year),
Jackson Boettner (first-year),
Dusan Djordjevic (first-year),
Cole Harman (returner),
Alex Hegeman (returner),
Winston Loh (first-year), and
Davidka Skov (first-year). The nine Tritons accounted for 27 points, scoring 13 goals and adding 14 assists over six games. In addition, senior walk-on goalie
Winston Loh made five saves in 17 minutes of action over three games.
AKERSTROMÂ ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
Landon Akerstrom,a 2024 All-Big West First Team and ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention performer, was a member of the Team USA squad that won a silver medal in June at the 2025 U20 World Championship in Croatia. It was the highest finish for a USA Men's National Team in World Championship play at any age group.   Â
2024 LOOKBACK
UC San Diego is coming off a 2024 season that saw it go 17-12 overall and 3-2 in Big West action. As the second seed at the conference championship, the Tritons came within a single win of taking the Big West title and an automatic berth in the NCAA's National Collegiate Championship.
Landon Akerstrom,
Bennett Axline, and
Lucas Romaguera garnered ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention accolades. Akerstrom and Romaguera also earned All-Big West First Team recognition.
Eamon Hennessey was selected to the conference's second team, while Axline,
Logan Estes, and
Felipe Ferreira were All-Big West Honorable Mention. All players mentioned except Estes are returners this season.
THEY CALL HIM USHA
UC San Diego is led by fourth-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 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 |
| 2025 |
20 |
9 |
.690 |
Big West |
2 |
3 |
.400 |
6 ACWPC/6Â CWPA |
| 2024 |
17 |
12 |
.586 |
Big West/2nd of 6 |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
11 ACWPC/10 CWPA |
| 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 |
68 |
47 |
.591 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
HARPER NAMED TO USA WATER POLO HALL OF FAME
Former UC San Diego water polo coach Denny Harper was officially inducted into theÂ
USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on June 14, 2025. Harper was one of five enshrined in the 41st class during a ceremony in Brea, Calif. The honorees represent international athletic excellence as well as gifted coaches and referees who have dedicated their lives to water polo. Harper, who announced his retirement from UC San Diego in July of 2022, spent 42 years at the helm of the UC San Diego men's program. He also led the Triton women's team from 1985 until 1999. His teams combined for 942 victories.
Read the full press release here
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.
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!
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.
