RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The No. 7/8 UC San Diego men's water polo team added two more wins to its record Saturday as it defeated Biola and No. 14/14 California Baptist.

The games took place at Lancer Aquatics Center in Riverside and were part of the Lancer Joust tournament.

With its fourth- and fifth-consecutive victories, UC San Diego moved to 14-5 on the season. The Eagles dropped to 2-13 and the Lancers fell to 10-7.

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
Luca Rago netted the game-winner on a power play with just 39 seconds remaining in regulation. It was his 10th goal of the season and he also accounted for two field blocks and a steal against the Lancers.

The game was tied 4-4 at halftime. 

Trailing 6-5 at the 4:29 mark of the third quarter, UC San Diego scored three-straight goals - one each for Mason Presley, Eamon Hennessey, and Felipe Ferreira - to take an 8-6 lead just before the end of the third.

However, CBU got right back in it by scoring three-consecutive times to take a 9-8 edge with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth frame.

Ante Buzov and Finn Bugelli scored back-to-back and Bugelli's power play strike gave the Tritons a 10-9 lead with 1:40 on the clock.

At 1:20, Lucas Romaguera was whistled for an exclusion and Whitley Beamon scored on the ensuing power play to once again knot the game, this time at 10-10.

An exclusion on CBU's Andrea Nuzzo gave UC San Diego a man-up situation and Rago was able to bury the game-winner.

Overall, there were nine tie scores in the game.

Hennessey finished with three goals while Christian Hammonds scored twice. Six other Tritons had single goals. Alex Hegeman made four saves and also grabbed a steal.

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST BIOLA
UC San Diego wasted no time getting on it, scoring four goals in the opening quarter and another six in the second which lead to a 10-4 lead at halftime.The Tritons went on to out-score the Eagles 8-4 in the second half. 

Freshman Jackson Boettner led all Tritons in scoring as he recorded his second career hat trick. Ante Buzov, Felipe Ferreira, and Lachlan Rossi each scored twice. Grant Kurtz racked up four points on a goal and three assists. His assist total set a new career high while his point total equaled his career best.

UC San Diego displayed its depth with 13 different players scoring at least once.

Goalie Alex Hegeman made five saves, one of those on a five-meter penalty shot. 

The Tritons held a hefty 33-22 advantage in shots.

For the Eagles, Gavin McKenzie turned in a solid effort, finishing with four points on two goals and two assists. Nick Murray also found the back of the net twice. Three different goalies combined to make seven saves. Joshua Dachenhausen took the loss in net.

Four of Biola's eight goals came during power play opportunities.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego plays two games as part of the Gary Troyer tournament hosted by Pomona-Pitzer at Haldeman Pool. On Oct. 3, the Tritons face McKendree at 1:30 p.m. and the host Sagehens at 6:30 p.m. Big West play begins on Oct. 11 at UC Santa Barbara.

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.