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\n Story Links
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LA JOLLA, Calif.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n
UC San Diego will play four total games over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Tritons roll into Stanford\u00a0with 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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/a> led the way, going\u00a0for seven points with five goals and a pair of assists. Finn Bugelli<\/a> and Jackson Boettner<\/a> each tallied hat tricks and first year Triton\u00a0Jack Wright<\/a> netted the game-winning goal\u00a0in OT.<\/p>\n Competing Teams All games at the MPSF Invite will be streamed live by Overnght<\/a>.
INSIDE THE GAMES Game 10: Overnght MPSF Invite Game 11: Overnght MPSF Invite Game 12: Overnght MPSF Invite 2026 SEASON ON THE TABLE<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n 2026\u00a0BIG WEST RECORDS\u00a0(through 9\/17)<\/p>\n
\u00a0
\n<\/p>\n TRITONS AMONG BIG WEST LEADERS (through 9\/17)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n ACTIVE SCORING STREAKS (through 9\/17) TRITON RECORDS (through 9\/17)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n DEBUT REVIEW THEY CALL HIM USHA WHY THE TRITONS About UC San Diego Athletics
\nNo. 1 UCLA
\nNo. 2 USC
\nNo. 3 Stanford
\nNo. 4 California
\nNo. 6 Long Beach State
\nNo. 6 UC Davis
\nNo. 8 Princeton
\nNo. 9 UC San Diego
\nNo. 11 Pepperdine
\nNo. 11 San Jose State
\nNo. 13 UC Irvine
\nNo. 14 UC Santa Barbara
\nNo. 15 Loyola Marymount
\nNo. 16 California Baptist
\nNo. 17 Santa Clara
\nClaremont-Mudd-Scripps (ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III)<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nGame 9: Overnght MPSF Invite
\n\u2022 #9 UC San Diego (7-1) vs. #11 Pepperdine<\/a>\u00a0(4-6)
\n\u2022 Friday, September 18, 3:20 p.m.
\n\u2022 Avery Aquatic Center – Stanford, Calif.
\n\u2022 Tournament Central<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Watch Live<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 #9 UC San Diego\u00a0vs. TBD
\n\u2022 Saturday, September 19, time TBD
\n\u2022 Avery Aquatic Center – Stanford, Calif.
\n\u2022 Tournament Central<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Watch Live<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 #9 UC San Diego vs. TBD
\n\u2022 Saturday, September 19, time TBD
\n\u2022 Avery Aquatic Center – Stanford, Calif.
\n\u2022 Tournament Central<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Watch Live<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 #9 UC San Diego (7-1) vs.\u00a0TBD
\n\u2022 Sunday, September 20, time TBD
\n\u2022 Avery Aquatic Center – Stanford, Calif.
\n\u2022 Tournament Central<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Watch Live<\/a>
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tTRITON ROSTER BREAKDOWN
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tReturners (16)
\n\t\t\tNewcomers (9)
\n\t\t\tLost (10)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLandon Akerstrom<\/a>, Sr., Utility
\n\t\t\tNolan Anderson<\/a>, Fr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tBennett Axline<\/a>, Utility
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tRazvan Alistar<\/a>, Jr., Utility
\n\t\t\tJack Elder<\/a>, Fr., Goalie
\n\t\t\tAnte Buzov<\/a>, Utility
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLiam Amburgey<\/a>, Jr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tBoston Frost<\/a>, Jr., Goalie
\n\t\t\tFelipe Ferreira<\/a>, Attacker
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tKyson Becker<\/a>, So. Attacker
\n\t\t\tChase Marsolf, Jr., Utility
\n\t\t\tBrendon Fezzey<\/a>, Utility
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tJaime Bhattacharyya<\/a>, Sr. Attacker
\n\t\t\tOrlando Mina<\/a>, Fr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tCole Harman<\/a>, Attacker
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tJackson Boettner<\/a>, So., Utility
\n\t\t\tLucas Pearce<\/a>, Fr., Center
\n\t\t\tEamon Hennessey<\/a>, Utility
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tFinn Bugelli<\/a>, Sr., Center
\n\t\t\tMichael Rodgers<\/a>, Jr., Defender
\n\t\t\tMark Laurlund<\/a>, Utility
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tDusan Djordjevic<\/a>, So., Utility
\n\t\t\tBryan Shapirshteyn<\/a>, Fr., Utility
\n\t\t\tWinston Loh<\/a>, Goalie
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tChristian Hammonds<\/a><\/a>, Jr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tJack Wright<\/a>, Jr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tNolan Roberts<\/a>, Attacker
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCaleb Harrison<\/a>, So., Defender
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tLucas Romaguera<\/a>, Attacker
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAlex Hegeman<\/a>, Jr., Goalie
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tGrant Kurtz<\/a>, Jr. Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tReef Lippa<\/a>, 5th Year, Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tMason Presley<\/a>, Sr., Utility
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLachlan Rossi<\/a>, Jr., Center
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tDavidka Skov<\/a>, So., Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tTeam
\n\t\t\tBig West
\n\t\t\t%
\n\t\t\tOverall
\n\t\t\t%
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCalifornia Baptist
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t9-1
\n\t\t\t.900
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC San Diego
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t7-1
\n\t\t\t.875
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t6-1
\n\t\t\t.857
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t10-4
\n\t\t\t.714
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Irvine
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t7-3
\n\t\t\t.700
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCal State Fullerton
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t5-7
\n\t\t\t.417
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2026 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (9\/10)
\n\t\t\t2026 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (9\/16)
\n\t\t\t2026\u00a0BIG WEST COACHES’ PRESEASON POLL
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t1. UCLA
\n\t\t\t1. UCLA
\n\t\t\t1.\u00a0Long Beach State, 24 (4)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2. USC
\n\t\t\t2. USC
\n\t\t\t2. UC Irvine, 19 (1)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t3. Stanford
\n\t\t\t3. Stanford
\n\t\t\tt-3. UC San Diego, 16 (1)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t4. California
\n\t\t\t4. California
\n\t\t\tt-3. California Baptist, 16
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t5. Fordham
\n\t\t\t5. Fordham
\n\t\t\t5.UC Santa Barbara, 10
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t6. Long Beach State
\n\t\t\ttie-6. UC Davis
\n\t\t\t6. Cal State Fullerton, 5
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t7. UC Davis
\n\t\t\ttie-6. Long Beach State
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t8. UC San Diego
\n\t\t\t8. Princeton
\n\t\t\t2026\u00a0BIG WEST COACHES’ PRESEASON TEAM
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t9. San Jose State
\n\t\t\t9. UC San Diego
\n\t\t\tGabi Acosta, Long Beach State
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t10. Pacific
\n\t\t\t10. Pacific
\n\t\t\tLandon Akerstrom<\/a>, UC San Diego
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t11. Pepperdine
\n\t\t\ttie-11. Pepperdine
\n\t\t\tCole Francisco, UC Irvine
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t12. Princeton
\n\t\t\ttie-11. San Jose State
\n\t\t\tAlex Hegeman<\/a>, UC San Diego
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t13. UC Irvine
\n\t\t\t13. UC Irvine
\n\t\t\tCharlie Johnson, UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t14. Loyola Marymount
\n\t\t\t14. UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\tAndrea Nuzzo, California Baptist
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t15. Brown
\n\t\t\t15. Loyola Marymount
\n\t\t\tCorbin Stanley, Long Beach State
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t16. UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\t16. California Baptist
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t17. California Baptist
\n\t\t\t17. Santa Clara
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t18. Harvard
\n\t\t\t18. Brown
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t19. Santa Clara
\n\t\t\t19. Navy
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t20. Navy
\n\t\t\t20. Saint Mary’s
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUCSD:\u00a08,8
\n\t\t\tUCSD:\u00a012,8,8,9
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 8 games – Christian Hammonds<\/a><\/a>
\n\u2022 7 games – Jackson Boettner<\/a>
\n\u2022 7 games – Mason Presley<\/a>
\n\u2022 3 games – Michael Rodgers<\/a>
\n\u2022 2 games – Dusan Djordjevic<\/a>
\n\u00a0
\nGAME WINNING GOALS (through 9\/17)
\n\u2022 2 –\u00a0Jack Wright<\/a> (Bucknell, Pepperdine\u00a01)
\n\u2022 1 – Liam Amburgey<\/a> (La Verne)
\n\u2022 1 –\u00a0 Nolan Anderson<\/a> (Mercyhurst)
\n\u2022 1 – Christian Hammonds<\/a><\/a> (Cal State Fullerton)
\n\u2022 1 – Caleb Harrison<\/a> (Chapman)
\n\u2022 1 – Davidka Skov<\/a> (McKendree)
\nTOP TRITON SCORERS GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 9\/17)<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOverall
\n\t\t\t7-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tBig West
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNon-conference
\n\t\t\t7-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAt home
\n\t\t\t5-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn the road
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAt at neutral site
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tIn overtime
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 0-3 goals
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 4-6\u00a0goals
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 7-9 goals
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 10-12 goals
\n\t\t\t0-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 13-15 goals
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 16-18 goals
\n\t\t\t2-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 19-20 goals
\n\t\t\t2-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 21-plus goals
\n\t\t\t3-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tMore shots than opponent
\n\t\t\t6-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOpponent has more shots
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tShots\u00a0are even
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tMore steals\u00a0than opponent
\n\t\t\t6-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOpponent has more steals
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tSteals are even
\n\t\t\t0-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Fridays
\n\t\t\t4-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Saturdays
\n\t\t\t1-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Sundays
\n\t\t\t2-0
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\nNine players made their debut for the Tritons during the season-opening Triton Invitational.
\n\u2022 Nolan Anderson<\/a> (Bucknell, 8\/28)
\n\u2022 Jack Elder<\/a> (Mercyhurst, 8\/28)
\n\u2022 Boston Frost<\/a> (Bucknell, 8\/28)
\n\u2022 Caleb Harrison<\/a> (Buckell, 8\/28)
\n\u2022 Chase Martsolf<\/a> (Bucknell, 828)
\n\u2022 Lucas Pearce<\/a>\u00a0(Bucknell, 8\/28)
\n\u2022 Michael Rodgers<\/a> (Bucknell, 8\/28)
\n\u2022 Bryan Shapirshteyn<\/a> (Bucknell, 8\/28)
\n\u2022 Jack Wright<\/a> (Bucknell, 8\/28)
\nTRITONS TO HOST 2026 NCAA NATIONAL COLLEGIATE MEN’S WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
\nIn October of 2024\u00a0the NCAA announced that UC San Diego will serve as host of the\u00a02026 National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo Championship\u00a0at Canyonview Aquatic Center.\u00a0The 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 <\/a>here<\/a><\/p>\n
\nUC San Diego is led by fifth-year head coach Matt “Usha”\u00a0Ustaszewski, who took over in 2022 when Denny Harper retired\u00a0after 42 years at the helm.\u00a0Ustaszewski 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.\u00a0In 2021, Ustaszewski completed\u00a0his ninth\u00a0season 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<\/a>.
\n\u00a0
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tSeason
\n\t\t\tWins
\n\t\t\tLosses
\n\t\t\tPct.
\n\t\t\tConference\/Finish
\n\t\t\tWins
\n\t\t\tLosses
\n\t\t\tPct.
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2026
\n\t\t\t7
\n\t\t\t1
\n\t\t\t.875
\n\t\t\tBig West
\n\t\t\t0
\n\t\t\t0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2025
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t\t10
\n\t\t\t677
\n\t\t\tBig West\/4th
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\t3
\n\t\t\t.400
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2024
\n\t\t\t17
\n\t\t\t12
\n\t\t\t.586
\n\t\t\tBig West\/2nd
\n\t\t\t3
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\t.600
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2023
\n\t\t\t17
\n\t\t\t13
\n\t\t\t.567
\n\t\t\tBig West\/3rd
\n\t\t\t3
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\t.600
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2022
\n\t\t\t14
\n\t\t\t13
\n\t\t\t.519
\n\t\t\tWWPA\/3rd
\n\t\t\t6
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\t.750
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tTotals
\n\t\t\t76
\n\t\t\t49
\n\t\t\t.608
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\nThe 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.
\nFOR THE YOUNGER FANS
\nHave some young Triton fans in your family? If they are in eighth grade or under, check out the\u00a0Junior Triton Club<\/a>!\u00a0Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!<\/p>\n
\nAfter two decades as one of the most successful\u00a0programs in\u00a0NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a\u00a0member of The Big West in\u00a0NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions\u00a0II\u00a0and III and helped guide\u00a01,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38\u00a0have 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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LA JOLLA, Calif.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0The ninth-ranked UC San Diego men’s water polo team hits…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":467750,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[74,76,75],"class_list":["post-467749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-diego","tag-san-diego","tag-san-diego-headlines","tag-san-diego-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=467749"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467749\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/467750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=467749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=467749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}