LA JOLLA, Calif. — The ninth-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team hits the road for the second straight week as the Tritons travel to Stanford to compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Invite. The ultra competitive event features the top four NCAA Division I teams in the country and 15 of 16 teams are ranked in the DIivision I national top-20.
UC San Diego will play four total games over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The Tritons roll into Stanford with a solid 7-1 record. They are outscoring opponents 147 to 73 thus far in 2026. UC San Diego has scored at least 16 goals in seven of eight contests.
Just one opponent is known at this point, and it's a familiar one. The Tritons will face off against No. 11 Pepperdine Friday at 3:20 p.m. Back on August 30 during the season-opening Triton Invitational in La Jolla, UC San Diego battled for a 17-15 overtime victory against the Wave.
Christian Hammonds led the way, going for seven points with five goals and a pair of assists.
Finn Bugelli and
Jackson Boettner each tallied hat tricks and first year TritonÂ
Jack Wright netted the game-winning goal in OT.
Competing Teams
No. 1 UCLA
No. 2 USC
No. 3 Stanford
No. 4 California
No. 6 Long Beach State
No. 6 UC Davis
No. 8 Princeton
No. 9 UC San Diego
No. 11 Pepperdine
No. 11 San Jose State
No. 13 UC Irvine
No. 14 UC Santa Barbara
No. 15 Loyola Marymount
No. 16 California Baptist
No. 17 Santa Clara
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III)
All games at the MPSF Invite will be streamed live by
Overnght.
INSIDE THE GAMES
Game 9: Overnght MPSF Invite
• #9 UC San Diego (7-1) vs. #11
Pepperdine (4-6)
• Friday, September 18, 3:20 p.m.
• Avery Aquatic Center - Stanford, Calif.
•
Tournament Central
•Â
Watch Live
Game 10: Overnght MPSF Invite
• #9 UC San Diego (8-1) vs. #1
UCLA (9-0)
• Saturday, September 19, 8 a.m.
• Avery Aquatic Center - Stanford, Calif.
•
Tournament Central
•Â
Watch Live
Game 11: Overnght MPSF Invite
• #9 UC San Diego (8-2) vs. #13
UC Irvine (8-3)
• Saturday, September 19, 1:40 p.m.
• Avery Aquatic Center - Stanford, Calif.
•
Tournament Central
•Â
Watch Live
Game 12: Overnght MPSF Invite
• #9 UC San Diego (8-2) vs. TBD
• Sunday, September 20, time TBD
• Avery Aquatic Center - Stanford, Calif.
•
Tournament Central
•Â
Watch Live
2026 SEASON ON THE TABLE
Â
|
TRITON ROSTER BREAKDOWN |
|
| Returners (16) |
Newcomers (9) |
Lost (10) |
| Landon Akerstrom, Sr., Utility |
Nolan Anderson, Fr., Attacker |
Bennett Axline, Utility |
| Razvan Alistar, Jr., Utility |
Jack Elder, Fr., Goalie |
Ante Buzov, Utility |
| Liam Amburgey, Jr., Attacker |
Boston Frost, Jr., Goalie |
Felipe Ferreira, Attacker |
| Kyson Becker, So. Attacker |
Chase Marsolf, Jr., Utility |
Brendon Fezzey, Utility |
| Jaime Bhattacharyya, Sr. Attacker |
Orlando Mina, Fr., Attacker |
Cole Harman, Attacker |
| Jackson Boettner, So., Utility |
Lucas Pearce, Fr., Center |
Eamon Hennessey, Utility |
| Finn Bugelli, Sr., Center |
Michael Rodgers, Jr., Defender |
Mark Laurlund, Utility |
| Dusan Djordjevic, So., Utility |
Bryan Shapirshteyn, Fr., Utility |
Winston Loh, Goalie |
| Christian Hammonds, Jr., Attacker |
Jack Wright, Jr., Attacker |
Nolan Roberts, Attacker |
| Caleb Harrison, So., Defender |
|
Lucas Romaguera, Attacker |
| Alex Hegeman, Jr., Goalie |
|
|
| Grant Kurtz, Jr. Attacker |
|
|
| Reef Lippa, 5th Year, Attacker |
|
|
| Mason Presley, Sr., Utility |
|
|
| Lachlan Rossi, Jr., Center |
|
|
| Davidka Skov, So., Attacker |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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2026Â BIG WEST RECORDSÂ (through 9/17)
| Team |
Big West |
% |
Overall |
% |
| California Baptist |
0-0 |
- |
9-1 |
.900 |
| UC San Diego |
0-0 |
- |
7-1 |
.875 |
| Long Beach State |
0-0 |
- |
6-1 |
.857 |
| UC Santa Barbara |
0-0 |
- |
10-4 |
.714 |
| UC Irvine |
0-0 |
- |
7-3 |
.700 |
| Cal State Fullerton |
0-0 |
- |
5-7 |
.417 |
Â
TRITONS AMONG BIG WEST LEADERS (through 9/17)
Â
| 2026 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (9/10) |
2026 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (9/16) |
2026Â BIG WEST COACHES' PRESEASON POLL |
| 1. UCLA |
1. UCLA |
1. Long Beach State, 24 (4) |
| 2. USC |
2. USC |
2. UC Irvine, 19 (1) |
| 3. Stanford |
3. Stanford |
t-3. UC San Diego, 16 (1) |
| 4. California |
4. California |
t-3. California Baptist, 16 |
| 5. Fordham |
5. Fordham |
5.UC Santa Barbara, 10 |
| 6. Long Beach State |
tie-6. UC Davis |
6. Cal State Fullerton, 5 |
| 7. UC Davis |
tie-6. Long Beach State |
|
| 8. UC San Diego |
8. Princeton |
2026Â BIG WEST COACHES' PRESEASON TEAM |
| 9. San Jose State |
9. UC San Diego |
Gabi Acosta, Long Beach State |
| 10. Pacific |
10. Pacific |
Landon Akerstrom, UC San Diego |
| 11. Pepperdine |
tie-11. Pepperdine |
Cole Francisco, UC Irvine |
| 12. Princeton |
tie-11. San Jose State |
Alex Hegeman, UC San Diego |
| 13. UC Irvine |
13. UC Irvine |
Charlie Johnson, UC Santa Barbara |
| 14. Loyola Marymount |
14. UC Santa Barbara |
Andrea Nuzzo, California Baptist |
| 15. Brown |
15. Loyola Marymount |
Corbin Stanley, Long Beach State |
| 16. UC Santa Barbara |
16. California Baptist |
|
| 17. California Baptist |
17. Santa Clara |
|
| 18. Harvard |
18. Brown |
|
| 19. Santa Clara |
19. Navy |
|
| 20. Navy |
20. Saint Mary's |
|
|
|
|
| UCSD:Â 8,8 |
UCSD:Â 12,8,8,9 |
|
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ACTIVE SCORING STREAKS (through 9/17)
• 8 games -
Christian Hammonds
• 7 games -
Jackson Boettner
• 7 games -
Mason Presley
• 3 games -
Michael Rodgers
• 2 games -
Dusan Djordjevic
Â
GAME WINNING GOALS (through 9/17)
• 2 -Â
Jack Wright (Bucknell, Pepperdine 1)
• 1 -
Liam Amburgey (La Verne)
• 1 -Â
Nolan Anderson (Mercyhurst)
• 1 -
Christian Hammonds (Cal State Fullerton)
• 1 -
Caleb Harrison (Chapman)
• 1 -
Davidka Skov (McKendree)
TOP TRITON SCORERS GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 9/17)
TRITON RECORDS (through 9/17)
| Overall |
7-1 |
| Big West |
0-0 |
| Non-conference |
7-1 |
| At home |
5-1 |
| On the road |
1-0 |
| At at neutral site |
1-0 |
| In overtime |
1-0 |
| Scoring 0-3 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 4-6Â goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
2-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
2-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
3-0 |
| More shots than opponent |
6-1 |
| Opponent has more shots |
1-0 |
| Shots are even |
0-0 |
| More steals than opponent |
6-0 |
| Opponent has more steals |
1-0 |
| Steals are even |
0-1 |
| On Fridays |
4-0 |
| On Saturdays |
1-1 |
| On Sundays |
2-0 |
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DEBUT REVIEW
Nine players made their debut for the Tritons during the season-opening Triton Invitational.
•
Nolan Anderson (Bucknell, 8/28)
•
Jack Elder (Mercyhurst, 8/28)
•
Boston Frost (Bucknell, 8/28)
•
Caleb Harrison (Buckell, 8/28)
•
Chase Martsolf (Bucknell, 828)
•
Lucas Pearce (Bucknell, 8/28)
•
Michael Rodgers (Bucknell, 8/28)
•
Bryan Shapirshteyn (Bucknell, 8/28)
•
Jack Wright (Bucknell, 8/28)
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
THEY CALL HIM USHA
UC San Diego is led by fifth-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.
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| Season |
Wins |
Losses |
Pct. |
Conference/Finish |
Wins |
Losses |
Pct. |
| 2026 |
7 |
1 |
.875 |
Big West |
0 |
0 |
- |
| 2025 |
21 |
10 |
677 |
Big West/4th |
2 |
3 |
.400 |
| 2024 |
17 |
12 |
.586 |
Big West/2nd |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
| 2023 |
17 |
13 |
.567 |
Big West/3rd |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
| 2022 |
14 |
13 |
.519 |
WWPA/3rd |
6 |
2 |
.750 |
| Totals |
76 |
49 |
.608 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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.
