{"id":64796,"date":"2025-11-22T04:25:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T04:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/64796\/"},"modified":"2025-11-22T04:25:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T04:25:07","slug":"big-west-championship-semifinal-uc-san-diego-vs-long-beach-state-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/64796\/","title":{"rendered":"Big West Championship Semifinal: UC San Diego vs. Long Beach State Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"


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IRVINE, Calif.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0The fourth-seeded UC San Diego men’s water polo team goes up against Long Beach State, the top seed, in a Big West Championship semifinal Saturday at noon.<\/p>\n

UC Irvine is hosting the championship at the Anteater Aquatics Complex on campus.<\/p>\n

The Tritons defeated fifth-seeded UC Irvine, 11-8, Friday in a first round match-up to advance. As the No. 1 seed, the Beach received a bye in the opening round.<\/p>\n

Saturday’s second semifinal features No. 2 UC Santa Barbara against No. 3 UC Davis at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Big West title\u00a0game is slated for 12\u00a0p.m. on Sunday with the winner earning a spot in the upcoming NCAA National Collegiate Championship. \n<\/p>\n

INSIDE THE GAME
\nGame 31: Big West Championship Semifinal
\n\u2022 #4 seed UC San Diego (21-9) vs.\u00a0#1\u00a0seed Long Beach State<\/a>\u00a0(16-8)
\n\u2022 Saturday, November 22, 12\u00a0p.m.
\n\u2022 Anteater Aquatics Complex<\/a>
\n\u2022 Tickets<\/a>
\n\u2022 Championship Site<\/a>
\n\u2022 ESPN+<\/a>
\n\u2022 FOSH Live Stats<\/a><\/p>\n

BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS\/SCHEDULE
\nFirst Round: Friday, Nov. 21
\nGame 1: #4 UC San Diego 11, #5 UC Irvine 8
\nGame 2: #3 UC Davis 14, #6 Cal State Fullerton 9<\/p>\n

Semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 22

\nGame 3: #1 Long Beach State vs. #4 UC San Diego, 12 p.m. (FOSH\u00a0Live Stats<\/a> | ESPN+<\/a>)

\nGame 4: #2 UC Santa Barbara vs. #3 UC Davis, 2 p.m. (FOSH Live Stats<\/a>\u00a0| <\/a>ESPN+<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Final: Sunday, Nov. 23

\nGame 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 12 p.m.\u00a0(FOSH Live Stats<\/a>\u00a0| ESPN+<\/a>)
\n \n<\/p>\n

UC SAN DIEGO AT THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

\nOverall: 3-2 | First Round: 2-0 | Semifinals: 1-1 | Final: 0-1 | Goals For: 59\u00a0| Goals Against: 44
\n\u2022 11\/21\/25 (First Round): UC San Diego 11, UC Irvine 8<\/a>
\n——
\n\u2022 11\/24\/24 (Final): Long Beach State10, UC San Diego 8<\/a>
\n\u2022 11\/23\/24 (Semifinal): UC San Diego 13, UC Davis 8<\/a>
\n——
\n\u2022 11\/18\/23 (Semifinal): UC Santa Barbara 13, UC San Diego 11 (OT)<\/a>
\n\u2022 11\/17\/23 (First Round): UC San Diego 16, Cal State Fullerton 5<\/a><\/p>\n

CURRENT TRITONS AT THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
\nGoals
\n11: Bennett Axline<\/a>
\n9: Ante Buzov<\/a>
\n7: Lucas Romaguera<\/a>
\n5: Felipe Ferreira<\/a>, Eamon Hennessey<\/a>
\n4. Landon Akerstrom<\/a>
\n3. Brendon Fezzey<\/a>, Mason Presley<\/a>, Luca Rago<\/a>
\n2. Finn Bugelli<\/a>
\n1. Mark Laurlund<\/a><\/p>\n

Assists

\n9: Mark Laurlund<\/a>

\n6: Lucas Romaguera<\/a>

\n5: Felipe Ferreira<\/a>

\n3: Luca Rago<\/a>

\n2: Brendon Fezzey<\/a>, Eamon Hennessey<\/a>, Mason Presley<\/a>

\n1: Bennett Axline<\/a>, Finn Bugelli<\/a>, Ante Buzov<\/a>, Christian Hammonds<\/a>, Grant Kurtz<\/a><\/p>\n

Points:

\n13: Lucas Romaguera<\/a> (7G, 6A)

\n12: Bennett Axline<\/a> (11G, 1A)

\n10: Ante Buzov<\/a> (9G, 1A), Felipe Ferreira<\/a> (5G, 5A), Mark Laurlund<\/a> (1G, 9A)

\n7: Eamon Hennessey<\/a> (5G, 2A)

\n6: Luca Rago<\/a> (3G, 3A)

\n5: Brendon Fezzey<\/a> (3G, 2A), Mason Presley<\/a> (3G, 2A)

\n4: Landon Akerstrom<\/a> (4G)

\n3: Finn Bugelli<\/a>, (2G, 1A)

\n1: Christian Hammonds<\/a> (1A), Grant Kurtz<\/a> (1A) \n<\/p>\n

2025 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 (21)
\n\t\t\tNewcomers (6)
\n\t\t\tLost (8)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLandon Akerstrom<\/a>, Jr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tKyson Becker<\/a>, Fr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tRhys Bugelli<\/a>, Utility
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tRazvan Alistar<\/a>, RS-Fr., Utility
\n\t\t\tJackson Boettner<\/a>, Fr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tLogan Estes<\/a>, Goalie
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLiam Amburgey<\/a>, RS-Fr., Attacker
\n\t\t\tDusan Djordjevic<\/a>, Fr., Utility
\n\t\t\tParker George<\/a>, Goalie
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tBennett Axline<\/a>, Sr., Utility
\n\t\t\tCaleb Harrison<\/a>, Fr., Utility
\n\t\t\tAugi Macchi<\/a>, Utility
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tJaime Bhattacharyya<\/a>, RS-So., Utility
\n\t\t\tWinston Loh<\/a><\/a>, Sr., Goalie
\n\t\t\tTrevor Moore<\/a>, Utility
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tFinn Bugelli<\/a>, Jr., Utility
\n\t\t\tDavidka Skov<\/a>, Fr., Utility
\n\t\t\tCollin Tournat<\/a>, Attacker
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAnte Buzov<\/a>, Sr., Utility
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tNikita Valajev<\/a>, Goalie
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tFelipe Ferreira<\/a>, Grad, Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tMatthew Wastila<\/a>, Attacker
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tBrendon Fezzey<\/a>, Sr., Utility
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tChristian Hammonds<\/a>, So., Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCole Harman<\/a>, RS-Fr., Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAlex Hegeman<\/a>, RS-Fr., Goalie
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tEamon Hennessey<\/a>, Sr., Utility
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tGrant Kurtz<\/a>, So., Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tMark Laurlund<\/a>, Jr., Utility
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tReef Lippa<\/a>, RS-Jr., Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tMason Presley<\/a>, Jr., Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLuca Rago<\/a>, Sr., Utility
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNolan Roberts<\/a>, Jr., Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLucas Romaguera<\/a>, Sr., Attacker
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLachlan Rossi<\/a>, So., Utility
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

SENIOR DAY
\nTen senior Tritons were celebrated prior to the team’s\u00a0final home game on Nov. 8:
\n#1 Nikita Valajev<\/a>
\n#1 Winston Loh<\/a><\/a>
\n#3 Eamon Hennessey<\/a>
\n#4 Ante Buzov<\/a>
\n#6 Felipe Ferreira<\/a>
\n#7 Lucas Romaguera<\/a>
\n#8 Mark Laurlund<\/a>
\n#11 Luca Rago<\/a>
\n#12 Bennett Axline<\/a>
\n#13 Brendon Fezzey<\/a>
\nBIG WEST MEN’S WATER POLO
\nIn 2023, the Big West began sponsoring\u00a0men’s water polo again following a 32-year hiatus. The conference previously offered the sport from 1984-91. Joining the Tritons in the conference are Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara. With six teams, the conference qualifies for an automatic berth in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Championship. UC San Diego hosted the first Big West Championship in 2023, which was won by UC Irvine.\u00a0Original members of the Big West included Fresno State, Long Beach State, Pacific, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara.\u00a0Two Big West programs boast national championships while competing in the conference, with UC Santa Barbara claiming the Division I men’s water polo title in 1979 while\u00a0UC Irvine took home the top prize in 1982 and 1989.<\/p>\n

2025 BIG WEST RECORDS\u00a0(through 11\/21)<\/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\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t5-0
\n\t\t\t1.000
\n\t\t\t16-8
\n\t\t\t.667
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\t3-2
\n\t\t\t.600
\n\t\t\t17-13
\n\t\t\t.567
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Davis
\n\t\t\t3-2
\n\t\t\t.600
\n\t\t\t13-12
\n\t\t\t.520
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC San Diego
\n\t\t\t2-3
\n\t\t\t.400
\n\t\t\t21-9
\n\t\t\t.700
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tUC Irvine
\n\t\t\t2-3
\n\t\t\t.400
\n\t\t\t15-12
\n\t\t\t.556
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCal State Fullerton
\n\t\t\t0-5
\n\t\t\t.000
\n\t\t\t17-16
\n\t\t\t.515
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \n<\/p>\n

TRITONS AMONG BIG WEST LEADERS (through 11\/20)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2025 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (11\/20)
\n\t\t\t2025 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (11\/19)
\n\t\t\t2025 BIG 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, 29 (5)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2. USC
\n\t\t\t2. USC
\n\t\t\t2. UC San Diego, 20 (1)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t3. Stanford
\n\t\t\t3. Stanford
\n\t\t\t3. UC\u00a0Irvine, 18
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t4. California
\n\t\t\t4. California
\n\t\t\t4. UC Davis, 13
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t5. Fordham
\n\t\t\t5. Fordham
\n\t\t\t5.UC Santa Barbara, 9
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t6. Long Beach State
\n\t\t\t6. Pacific
\n\t\t\t6. Cal State Fullerton, 6
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t7. San Jose State
\n\t\t\t7. Long Beach State
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t8. Pepperdine
\n\t\t\t8. UC Davis
\n\t\t\t2025 BIG WEST COACHES’ PRESEASON TEAM
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t9. UC Davis
\n\t\t\t9. San Jose State
\n\t\t\tGabi Acosta, Long Beach State
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t10. LMU
\n\t\t\t10. Pepperdine
\n\t\t\tLandon Akerstrom<\/a>, UC San Diego
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t11. UC San Diego
\n\t\t\t11. LMU
\n\t\t\tFelipe Ferreira<\/a>, UC San Diego
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t12. Pacific
\n\t\t\t12. UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\tCaleb Francisco, Long Beach State
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t13. UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\t13. UC San Diego
\n\t\t\tThomas Kiesling, UC Davis
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t14. UC Irvine
\n\t\t\t14. Princeton
\n\t\t\tLuka Krstic, UC Irvine
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t15. Princeton
\n\t\t\tt-15. California Baptist
\n\t\t\tJack Stevens, UC Irvine
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t16. California Baptist
\n\t\t\tt-15. UC Irvine
\n\t\t\tBrock Zamanian, UC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t17. Santa Clara
\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. Harvard
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t19. Navy
\n\t\t\t19. Brown
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t20. Brown
\n\t\t\t20.\u00a0Navy
\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:\u00a012,13,13,8,7,6,7,8,8,10,10,11
\n\t\t\tUCSD: 12,13,13,14,7,7,6,7,10,10,10,13,13
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

POLL POSITION
\nUC San Diego has been ranked as high as No. 6 this season\u00a0in both the\u00a0Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national polls. The last time the Tritons were slotted higher was in 2018 when they came\u00a0at No. 5.
\nACTIVE SCORING STREAKS (through 11\/21)
\n\u2022 4: Finn Bugelli<\/a>
\n\u2022 3: Felipe Ferreira<\/a>
\n\u2022 2: Eamon Hennessey<\/a>
\nGAME WINNING GOALS (through 11\/21)
\n\u2022 4: Christian Hammonds<\/a>, (UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Princeton 1, McKendree)
\n\u2022 4: Luca Rago<\/a>, (UC Irvine 2, California Baptist, Cal Lutheran, Occidental)
\n\u2022 3: Felipe Ferreira<\/a>, (George Washington, La Verne, Pomona-Pitzer)
\n\u2022 3: Eamon Hennessey<\/a>,\u00a0(UC Davis, Concordia 2, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps)
\n\u2022 2: Bennett Axline<\/a>, (LMU, Princeton 2)
\n\u2022 1: Jaime Bhattacharyya<\/a> (Biola 2)
\n\u2022 1: Ante Buzov<\/a>, (LMU 2)
\n\u2022 1: Grant Kurtz<\/a>, (Biola 1)
\n\u2022 1: Mark Laurlund<\/a>, (Concordia 1)
\n\u2022 1: Lucas Romaguera<\/a>, (Chapman)
\nTOP TRITON SCORERS GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 11\/21)<\/p>\n

TRITON RECORDS (through 11\/21)<\/p>\n


\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOverall
\n\t\t\t21-9
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tBig West
\n\t\t\t2-3
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNon-conference
\n\t\t\t19-6
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAt home
\n\t\t\t7-6
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn the road
\n\t\t\t5-2
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAt at neutral site
\n\t\t\t9-1
\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\t0-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 4-6\u00a0goals
\n\t\t\t0-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 7-9 goals
\n\t\t\t1-3
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 10-12 goals
\n\t\t\t3-3
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 13-15 goals
\n\t\t\t8-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 16-18 goals
\n\t\t\t3-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tScoring 19-20 goals
\n\t\t\t3-0
\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\t19-6
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOpponent has more shots
\n\t\t\t2-2
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tShots\u00a0are even
\n\t\t\t0-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tMore steals\u00a0than opponent
\n\t\t\t17-5
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOpponent has more steals
\n\t\t\t2-4
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tSteals are even
\n\t\t\t2-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tMore exclusions than opponent
\n\t\t\t10-1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOpponent has more exclusions
\n\t\t\t9-8
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tExclusions are even
\n\t\t\t2-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Wednesdays
\n\t\t\t1-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Thursdays
\n\t\t\t2-0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Fridays
\n\t\t\t10-2
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Saturdays
\n\t\t\t6-4
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tOn Sundays
\n\t\t\t2-3
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

SEVEN GAME STREAK
\nWith UC San Diego’s\u00a0loss at UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 11, the Tritons had their season long seven game win streak snapped. It was the team’s\u00a0longest run since 2019 when it won 11 straight. This season’s streak began on Sept. 20 at LMU and also featured wins against UC Davis, LMU for a second time, Biola, California Baptist, McKendree, and Pomona-Pitzer.
\nAXLINE EARNS FIRST BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
\nOn September\u00a024,\u00a0Bennett Axline<\/a><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0was\u00a0named the Big West Men’s Water Polo Player of the Week. Over five games the previous week, the senior led UC San Diego to a 4-1 record with all four victories coming against teams ranked in the national top-20. Axline totaled 14 points off 13 goals and an assist while also ringing up 19 drawn exclusions. He scored multiple goals in four of five outings with his five against Princeton one short of his career-high. In addition, he netted the game-winner against LMU. Axline’s\u00a0performances helped the Tritons finish fifth in the 16-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Invitational in Los Angeles. It is the\u00a0first career Big West Player of the Week honor for Axline.<\/p>\n

HOW MANY GOALS?!?!?!
\nUC San Diego defeated Chapman, 26-7, on September 12 in Orange County. The 26 goals are\u00a0the most scored by the Tritons since Sept. 22, 2012, when they downed\u00a0Occidental 27-1.
\nUC SAN DIEGO ACCEPTS OFFER TO JOIN WEST COAST CONFERENCE
\nOn Sept. 3, 2025, UC San Diego accepted a formal invitation to join the West Coast Conference (WCC)<\/a> and will begin competing in the conference\u00a0starting with the 2027-28 season. In 2027-28, the WCC membership will consist of: University of California San Diego, Loyola Marymount University, University of the Pacific, Pepperdine University, University of Portland, Saint Mary’s College, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Seattle University. UC San Diego will become the first public institution in the West Coast Conference since the departure of the University of Nevada-Reno in 1979. Read the complete press release here<\/a><\/p>\n

TRITONS 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

HOME COOKING FOR USTASZEWSKI
\nOn September 21 in La Jolla, UC San Diego defeated LMU, 14-9, in the annual Battle of the Kings. That win was the 60th of head coach Matt Ustaszewski’s career.\u00a0With a 20-3 win against Occidental on August 30 during the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Ustaszewski picked up his 50th career victory. Coming into the 2025 campaign he owned 48 wins, collecting 17 in both 2024 and 2023 and 14 in 2022.
\nDEBUT REVIEW
\nNine UC San Diego players made their career debuts during the season-opening Triton Invitational in La Jolla – Razvan Alistar<\/a>\u00a0(returner), Liam Amburgey<\/a> (returner), Kyson Becker<\/a> (first-year), Jackson Boettner<\/a>\u00a0(first-year), Dusan Djordjevic<\/a> (first-year), Cole Harman<\/a>\u00a0(returner), Alex Hegeman<\/a> (returner), Winston Loh<\/a><\/a> (first-year), and Davidka Skov<\/a> (first-year). The nine Tritons\u00a0accounted for 27 points, scoring 13 goals and adding 14 assists over six games. In addition, senior walk-on goalie Winston Loh<\/a><\/a> made five saves in 17 minutes of action over three games.
\nAKERSTROM\u00a0ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
\nLandon Akerstrom<\/a>,a 2024 All-Big West First Team and ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention performer,\u00a0was a member of the Team USA squad\u00a0that won a silver medal in June at the 2025\u00a0U20 World Championship in Croatia. It was the highest finish for a USA Men’s National Team in World Championship play at any age group.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n2024 LOOKBACK
\nUC San Diego is coming off a 2024 season that saw it go 17-12 overall and 3-2 in Big West action. As the second seed at the conference championship, the Tritons came within a single win of taking the Big West title and an automatic berth in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Championship. Landon Akerstrom<\/a>, Bennett Axline<\/a>, and Lucas Romaguera<\/a> garnered ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention accolades. Akerstrom and Romaguera also earned All-Big West First Team recognition. Eamon Hennessey<\/a>\u00a0was selected to the conference’s second team, while Axline, Logan Estes<\/a>, and Felipe Ferreira<\/a> were All-Big West Honorable Mention. All players mentioned except Estes are returners\u00a0this season.
\nTHEY CALL HIM USHA
\nUC San Diego is led by fourth-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\tHighest NCAA Rank
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2025
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t\t9
\n\t\t\t.700
\n\t\t\tBig West
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\t3
\n\t\t\t.400
\n\t\t\t6 ACWPC\/6\u00a0CWPA
\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 of 6
\n\t\t\t3
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\t.600
\n\t\t\t11 ACWPC\/10 CWPA
\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 of 6
\n\t\t\t3
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\t.600
\n\t\t\t9 ACWPC\/9 CWPA)
\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 of 8
\n\t\t\t6
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\t.750
\n\t\t\t10 CWPA
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tTotals
\n\t\t\t69
\n\t\t\t47
\n\t\t\t.595
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t\t-
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

HARPER NAMED TO USA WATER POLO HALL OF FAME
\nFormer UC San Diego water polo coach Denny Harper was officially inducted into the\u00a0USA Water Polo<\/a>\u00a0Hall of Fame on June 14, 2025. Harper was one of five enshrined in the 41st class during a ceremony in Brea, Calif. The honorees represent international athletic excellence as well as gifted coaches and referees who have dedicated their lives to water polo. Harper, who announced his retirement from UC San Diego in July of 2022, spent 42 years at the helm of the UC San Diego men’s program. He also led the Triton women’s team from 1985 until 1999. His teams combined for 942 victories. Read the full press release here<\/a><\/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 IRVINE, Calif.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0The fourth-seeded UC San Diego men’s water polo team goes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":64797,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[131,133,132],"class_list":["post-64796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64796","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=64796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64796\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}