\n
\n Story Links
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<\/p>\n
LA JOLLA, Calif.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0The 12th-ranked UC San Diego men’s water polo team is on the road this week for a pair of Friday games at the annual Gary Troyer Tournament.<\/p>\n
The Tritons are scheduled to play Redlands University at 11:30 a.m. and Pomona-Pitzer at 7 p.m. Both contests will be at Pomona Pitzer’s Haldeman Pool.<\/p>\n
Both opponents are highly-ranked among NCAA Division III teams with Redlands at No. 2 and Pomona-Pitzer at No. 3 in the nation.<\/p>\n
UC San Diego is coming off a tough\u00a010-9 loss against LMU last Wednesday in the annual Battle of the Kings game. The Tritons hold a 9-4 record.<\/p>\n
Redlands brings in a 2-8 overall record. Both of the Bulldogs’ wins came against Concordia University Irvine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pomona-Pitzer is 3-5 in 2026. The Sagehens earned victories over the Big West’s Cal State Fullerton as well as California Lutheran University and Ventua College.<\/p>\n
Both games will be covered by FOSH live stats. The game against Pomona-Pitzer will also be live streamed by FloSports. Coverage links are below. \n<\/p>\n
INSIDE THE GAMES Game 15\u00a0– Gary Troyer Tournament 2026 SEASON ON THE TABLE<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n 2026\u00a0BIG WEST STANDINGS\u00a0(through 9\/29)<\/p>\n
\u00a0
\n<\/p>\n TRITONS AMONG BIG WEST LEADERS (through 9\/29)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n ACTIVE SCORING STREAKS (through 10\/1) TRITON RECORDS (through 10\/1)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n DEBUT REVIEW THEY CALL HIM USHA WHY THE TRITONS About UC San Diego Athletics
\nGame 14 – Gary Troyer Tournament
\n\u2022 #12\u00a0UC San Diego (9-4) vs.\u00a0Redlands<\/a> (2-8)
\n\u2022 Friday, October 2, 11:30 a.m.
\n\u2022 Haldeman Pool<\/a>\u00a0– Claremont, Calif.
\n\u2022 Tournament Central<\/a>
\n\u2022 Live Stats<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 #12\u00a0UC San Diego (9-4) at Pomona-Pitzer<\/a>\u00a0(3-5)
\n\u2022 Friday, October 2, 7 p.m.
\n\u2022 Haldeman Pool<\/a>\u00a0– Claremont, Calif.
\n\u2022 Tournament Central<\/a>
\n\u2022 Watch Live<\/a>
\n\u2022 Live Stats<\/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>, 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\t15-4
\n\t\t\t.789
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Irvine
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t12-5
\n\t\t\t.706
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t9-4
\n\t\t\t.692
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC San Diego
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t9-4
\n\t\t\t.692
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t16-8
\n\t\t\t.667
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCal State Fullerton
\n\t\t\t0-0
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t11-8
\n\t\t\t.579
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2026 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (9\/24)
\n\t\t\t2026 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (9\/30)
\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. Stanford
\n\t\t\t2. Stanford
\n\t\t\t2. UC Irvine, 19 (1)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t3. USC
\n\t\t\t3. USC
\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\t6. UC Irvine
\n\t\t\t6. Cal State Fullerton, 5
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t7. UC San Diego
\n\t\t\t7. Long Beach State
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t8. UC Irvine
\n\t\t\t8. Pacific
\n\t\t\t2026\u00a0BIG WEST COACHES’ PRESEASON TEAM
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t9. Princeton
\n\t\t\tt-9. Princeton
\n\t\t\tGabi Acosta, Long Beach State
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t10. San Jose State
\n\t\t\tt-9. San Jose State
\n\t\t\tLandon Akerstrom<\/a>, UC San Diego
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t11. LMU
\n\t\t\t11. Pepperdine
\n\t\t\tCole Francisco, UC Irvine
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t12. Pepperdine
\n\t\t\t12. UC San Diego
\n\t\t\tAlex Hegeman<\/a>, UC San Diego
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t13. Pacific
\n\t\t\t13. UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\tCharlie Johnson, UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t14. California Baptist
\n\t\t\t14. LMU
\n\t\t\tAndrea Nuzzo, California Baptist
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t15. UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\t15. Navy
\n\t\t\tCorbin Stanley, Long Beach State
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t16. UC Davis
\n\t\t\t16. California Baptist
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t17. Santa Clara
\n\t\t\t17. UC Davis
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t18. Navy
\n\t\t\t18. Santa Clara
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t19. Brown
\n\t\t\t19. Brown
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t20. Harvard
\n\t\t\tt-20. Cal State Fullerton
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tt-20. Concordia University
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tt-20. Saint Mary’s
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUCSD:\u00a08,8,8,7
\n\t\t\tUCSD:\u00a012,8,8,9,7,12
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\n13 – Christian Hammonds<\/a>
\n12 – Jackson Boettner<\/a>
\n11 – Mason Presley<\/a>
\n3 – Grant Kurtz<\/a>
\n3 – Lachlan Rossi<\/a>
\nGAME WINNING GOALS (through 10\/1)
\n2 –\u00a0Jack Wright<\/a> (Bucknell, Pepperdine\u00a01)
\n1 – Liam Amburgey<\/a> (La Verne)
\n1 – Finn Bugelli<\/a> (Pepperdine 2)
\n1 –\u00a0 Nolan Anderson<\/a> (Mercyhurst)
\n1 – Christian Hammonds<\/a> (Cal State Fullerton 1)
\n1 – Caleb Harrison<\/a> (Chapman)
\n1 – Mason Presley<\/a> (UC Irvine 1)
\n1 – Davidka Skov<\/a> (McKendree)
\nTOP TRITON SCORERS GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 10\/1)<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOverall
\n\t\t\t9-5
\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\t9-4
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAt home
\n\t\t\t5-2
\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\t3-2
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tIn overtime
\n\t\t\t1-1
\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\t0-2
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 10-12 goals
\n\t\t\t2-1
\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\t2-1
\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\tOn Wednesdays
\n\t\t\t0-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Fridays
\n\t\t\t5-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Saturdays
\n\t\t\t2-2
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Sundays
\n\t\t\t2-1
\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\t9
\n\t\t\t4
\n\t\t\t.692
\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\t78
\n\t\t\t52
\n\t\t\t.600
\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":"
Story Links
LA JOLLA, Calif.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0The 12th-ranked UC San Diego men’s water polo team is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":480865,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[74,76,75],"class_list":["post-480864","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\/480864","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=480864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/480864\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/480865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=480864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=480864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=480864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}