FULLERTON, Calif. — The #12/13 UC San Diego men's water polo team earned a pair of non-conference victories Friday, first defeating Concordia 16-12 before routing Chapman 26-7.

Both games were played at the Titan Aquatics Center on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.

AGAINST CONCORDIA
UC San Diego edged Concordia in a thrilling game to kick off their doubleheader.

The Tritons showcased their offensive strength, particularly in the first quarter where they scored seven goals.

Ante Buzov was a standout performer for UC San Diego, netting four goals. Teammates Eamon Hennessey and Finn Bugelli contributed with two goals each. Jackson Boettner and others added to the Tritons' impressive attack, allowing them to maintain a lead throughout the game.

Concordia's Levi Riegelmann led his team with four goals. Hugo Wouters and Dimitrios Koritsas added three goals each to keep the Eagles competitive, but their efforts fell short against UC San Diego's relentless scoring.

The match saw an explosive start, with both teams exchanging goals in the first quarter. After trailing early, Concordia managed to keep pace, but UC San Diego's strong defense and goalkeeping, highlighted by six saves from Alex Hegeman, bolstered the victory.

Despite a valiant effort by Concordia, including key saves from goalie Pablo de Souza, the Tritons' early advantage proved too difficult to overcome. The final score of 16-12 reflected a closely contested match-up.

AGAINST CHAPMAN
UC San Diego showcased an impressive performance against Chapman, winning decisively 26-7. The Tritons asserted their dominance early, scoring seven goals in the first period alone.

Leading the Tritons' offensive surge was Lucas Romaguera, who netted three goals, alongside Bennett Axline, who also contributed three goals. Other notable scorers included Eamon Hennessey and Ante Buzov, each adding two goals to the scoreboard, helping UC San Diego maintain a strong lead throughout the match.

Defensively, Triton goalie Alex Hegeman shined with eight saves, while his teammate Winston Loh added two more. The Tritons' defense effectively stifled Chapman's attack, allowing only seven total goals throughout the game, with Rylan Takahashi scoring two to lead the Panthers.

Chapman struggled to keep pace, failing to score in the second period, which allowed UC San Diego to extend its lead significantly. The Tritons continued their scoring spree into the second half, tallying eight goals in the third period alone.

As the game concluded, it was clear that UC San Diego asserted their strength with balanced scoring and solid defense.

TRITON TIDBITS
• The 26 goals scored on Chapman were the most by UC San Diego since Sept. 22, 2012 when it defeated Occidental 27-1 at Whittier College.
• It was the fourth time this season that UC San Diego has scored at least 20 goals. 

UP NEXT
UC San Diego faces a formidable opponent Sunday as #4/5 Stanford (4-0) visits Canyonview Aquatic Center for a noon showdown.

Season and single game tickets are available for purchase online by visiting the link HERE or by calling (858) 534-1430. For more ticket information, e-mail the box office at triton-tix@ucsd.edu.

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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.