LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 7th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team (14-6) returns to action this week with two road games.  On Friday, October 24, the Tritons head to No. 8 UC Santa Barbara (11-7) at 3:00 p.m.  The Tritons have defeated the Gauchos twice this year, both games coming by a 12-11 score.  UCSD heads to Los Angeles on September 25 to take on No. 6 Loyola Marymount (12-8) at 12:00 p.m.  LMU has defeated UCSD twice this season, with both games coming down to the wire.  LMU won a 12-11 decision in La Jolla, and followed that up with a 15-12 OT win over the Tritons at the Southern California Tournament.

Last week the Gauchos defeated UC Irvine in OT by a 13-12 score.  UCSB recently lost 3-of-4 at the Southern California tournament.  UCSB defeated UC Irvine and lost to USC, Pepperdine and UCSD.  UCSB participated at the Triton Invitational in September, with wins against Cal Lutheran and Pacific.

Loyola Marymount is 12-8 in 2008 with wins over UC Irvine, UCSB and Long Beach State.  LMU nearly knocked off USC at the Triton Invitational, losing by  a 10-9 score in triple overtime.  LMU is led by Edgaras Asajavicius with 32 goals this year.  Goalkeeper Andy Stevens is fifth in the nation with 173 saves in 17.5 games.

The Tritons are coming off a 20-4 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.  A.J. Kotanjian and Steven Donohoe are both ranked in the top-10 in the nation in goals scored.  David Morton enters the week with 172 saves, good for sixth in the nation.