{"id":497727,"date":"2026-10-16T05:20:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T05:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/497727\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T05:20:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T05:20:10","slug":"homebound-tritons-host-a-pair-friday-and-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/497727\/","title":{"rendered":"Homebound: Tritons Host a Pair Friday and Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n 2026 Season Schedule<\/a>
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LA JOLLA, Calif.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Ending a four-game road swing, the 8th-ranked UC San Diego men’s water polo team returns home this week to host games Friday and Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Friday brings a Big West contest as 14th-ranked UC Santa Barbara visits Canyonview Aquatic Center for a 6 p.m. tilt. Saturday is a non-conference affair as the Tritons take on Concordia University Irvine at noon.<\/p>\n

UC San Diego is 1-0 in\u00a0 Big West play after taking down Long Beach State, the preseason favorite to win the league, last week in Long Beach. UCSB is 18-9 overall and 0-1 in the Big West after dropping a 14-12 decision to California Baptist last Saturday in Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n

The Eagles come in with a 15-9 season mark. They are riding a three-game win streak that includes victories over Fresno Pacific, UC Merced, and Cal Lutheran. The team is receiving votes in this week’s\u00a0NCAA Division I national poll.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both games will be covered by a live ESPN+ broadcast as well as\u00a0FOSH live stats. Coverage links are below. \n<\/p>\n

INSIDE THE GAMES
\nGame 18 – Big West
\n\u2022 #8\u00a0UC San Diego (12-5, 1-0) vs. #14 UC Santa Barbara<\/a>\u00a0(18-9, 0-1)
\n\u2022 Friday, October 16, 6 p.m.
\n\u2022 Canyonview\u00a0Aquatic\u00a0Center<\/a>\u00a0– La Jolla, Calif.
\n\u2022 History vs. UC Santa Barbara<\/a>
\n\u2022 ESPN+<\/a>
\n\u2022 Live Stats<\/a>
\n\u2022 Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

Game 19 – Non-Conference

\n\u2022 #8 UC San Diego (12-5) vs. RV\u00a0Concordia University Irvine<\/a>\u00a0(15-9)

\n\u2022 Saturday, October 17, 12 p.m.

\n\u2022 Canyonview Aquatic Center<\/a>\u00a0– La Jolla, Calif.

\n\u2022 History vs. CUI<\/a>

\n\u2022 ESPN+<\/a>

\n\u2022 Live Stats<\/a>

\n\u2022 Tickets<\/a>
\n \n<\/p>\n

2026 SEASON ON THE TABLE<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/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

\u00a0<\/p>\n

2026\u00a0BIG WEST STANDINGS\u00a0(through 10\/15)<\/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\t1-0
\n\t\t\t1.000
\n\t\t\t20-5
\n\t\t\t.800
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Irvine
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t\t1.000
\n\t\t\t15-5
\n\t\t\t.750
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC San Diego
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t\t1.000
\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\t0-1
\n\t\t\t.000
\n\t\t\t13-5
\n\t\t\t.722
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\t0-1
\n\t\t\t.000
\n\t\t\t18-9
\n\t\t\t.667
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCal State Fullerton
\n\t\t\t0-1
\n\t\t\t.000
\n\t\t\t17-9
\n\t\t\t.654
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \n<\/p>\n

TRITONS AMONG BIG WEST LEADERS (through 10\/15)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2026 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (10\/15)
\n\t\t\t2026 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (10\/14)
\n\t\t\t2026\u00a0BIG WEST COACHES’ PRESEASON POLL
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t1. Stanford
\n\t\t\t1. Stanford
\n\t\t\t1.\u00a0Long Beach State, 24 (4)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2. UCLA
\n\t\t\t2. UCLA
\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\tt-6. Princeton
\n\t\t\t6. UC Irvine
\n\t\t\t6. Cal State Fullerton, 5
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tt-6. UC Irvine
\n\t\t\t7. Princeton
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t8. Long Beach State
\n\t\t\tt-8. LMU
\n\t\t\t2026\u00a0BIG WEST COACHES’ PRESEASON TEAM
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t9. UC San Diego
\n\t\t\tt-8. 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. Long Beach 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. Pacific
\n\t\t\tCole Francisco, UC Irvine
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t12. California Baptist
\n\t\t\t12. UC Davis
\n\t\t\tAlex Hegeman<\/a>, UC San Diego
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t13. UC Davis
\n\t\t\t13. Pepperdine
\n\t\t\tCharlie Johnson, UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t14. UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\tt-14. California Baptist
\n\t\t\tAndrea Nuzzo, California Baptist
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t15. Navy
\n\t\t\tt-14. UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\tCorbin Stanley, Long Beach State
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t16. Pepperdine
\n\t\t\t16. San Jose State
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t17. San Jose State
\n\t\t\t17. Navy
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t18. Santa Clara
\n\t\t\t18. Santa Clara
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t19. Harvard
\n\t\t\t19. Harvard
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tt-20. Bucknell
\n\t\t\t20. Saint Mary’s
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tt-20. Saint Mary’s
\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\tUCSD:\u00a08,8,8,7,10,9
\n\t\t\tUCSD:\u00a012,8,8,9,7,12,10,8
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

LANDON AKERSTROM NAMED BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
\nSenior utility Landon Akerstrom<\/a> was named the Big West Player of the Week on Oct. 14.\u00a0Akerstrom led UC San Diego\u00a0to a huge Big West road win at No. 7 Long Beach State on Oct. 9. He racked up a season-high five points with four goals and an assist and tacked on a steal as well. His goal with 2:38 remaining in the game proved to be the game-winner against the Big West preseason favorite. It was Akerstrom’s third game back in action after sitting out since September of 2025 due to injury. A native of Costa Mesa, Calif., Akerstrom\u00a0was selected to the 2026 Big West Preseason Coaches’ Team.\u00a0It was\u00a0the second career Big West Player of the Week honor for Akerstrom (10\/16\/24).\u00a0\u00a0
\nACTIVE SCORING STREAKS (through 10\/15)
\n17 – Christian Hammonds<\/a>
\n16 – Jackson Boettner<\/a>
\n5 – Finn Bugelli<\/a>
\n2 – Bryan Shapirshteyn<\/a>
\nGAME WINNING GOALS (through 10\/15)
\n2 –\u00a0Jack Wright<\/a> (Bucknell, Pepperdine\u00a01)
\n2 – Christian Hammonds<\/a> (Pomona-Pitzer, Cal State Fullerton 1)
\n2 – Mason Presley<\/a> (Redlands, UC Irvine 1)
\n1 – Landon Akerstrom<\/a> (Long Beach State)
\n1 – Liam Amburgey<\/a> (La Verne)
\n1 – Finn Bugelli<\/a> (Pepperdine 2)
\n1 –\u00a0 Nolan Anderson<\/a> (Mercyhurst)
\n1 – Caleb Harrison<\/a> (Chapman)
\n1 – Davidka Skov<\/a> (McKendree)
\nTOP TRITON SCORERS GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 10\/15)<\/p>\n

RECORDS (through 10\/15)<\/p>\n


\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOverall
\n\t\t\t12-5
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tBig West
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNon-conference
\n\t\t\t11-5
\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\t2-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAt at neutral site
\n\t\t\t5-2
\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\t0-3
\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\t2-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 16-18 goals
\n\t\t\t3-1
\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\t8-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Saturdays
\n\t\t\t2-3
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Sundays
\n\t\t\t2-1
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

DEBUT REVIEW
\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

THEY CALL HIM USHA
\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. Usha won his 80th career game this season on Oct. 2 when the Tritons downed Pomona-Pitzer, 16-10 on the road. 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.\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\t12
\n\t\t\t5
\n\t\t\t.706
\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\t81
\n\t\t\t53
\n\t\t\t.604
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

WHY THE TRITONS
\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

About UC San Diego Athletics
\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 Buy Home Game Tickets 2026 Season Schedule…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":497728,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[74,76,75],"class_list":["post-497727","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\/497727","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=497727"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497727\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/497728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=497727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=497727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=497727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}