LA JOLLA, Calif. - After splitting a pair of matches at UC Davis and Santa Clara last weekend, the No. 12 UC San Diego men's water polo team returns to Canyonview Pool this Saturday to take on No. 9 Loyola Marymount at 2:00 p.m. in Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) play.
The Tritons are currently ranked fourth in the WWPA with a 10-8 overall record. The Lions enter this weekend's match-up with an 11-7 overall record, second-best in the WWPA standings behind No. 11 UC Davis, which stands at 12-6.
Despite three goals from sophomore
Brian Donohoe, UCSD dropped a 6-5 decision to UC Davis last Friday. It marked the second consecutive 6-5 loss for UCSD, as it dropped a decision by the same score to No. 8 Long Beach State on Oct. 8.
David Morton stopped nine Aggie shots, while
Graham Saber and
Bryce Madsen also scored for the Tritons.
Ryan Allred dished out three assists and
Matt Kerchner tallied a single assist in the match. UCSD outshot UCD by a slim 22-21 margin, but the Aggies converted two of their three 6-on-5 opportunities.
The following day, UCSD would snap its two-match losing skid by spoiling No. 13 Santa Clara's home opener with a 10-7 win at SCU's Sullivan Aquatic Center. Saber scored three goals to pace the Triton attack, while
John Butler and Donohoe contributed two goals apiece. Allred,
Jakub Bednarek and
Dane Sequeira also tallied goals for UCSD. Morton piled up 11 saves and an assist.
UCSD has won seven of its last 10 matches and is 6-3 in WWPA competition. Donohoe continues to lead UCSD with 34 goals on the year. Allred follows with 22 goals and a team-high 21 assists.
Loyola Marymount earned a sweep in a pair of games against Air Force and Chapman over the weekend, winning 9-3 and 21-9, respectively. Edgaras Asajavicius recorded six goals over the two matches as LMU moved to 8-1 against WWPA competitors. Asajavicius and Tibor Forai lead the team with 28 goals on the season, 18 more than their next closest teammate, Ikaika Aki. LMU is 4-1 over its last five contests.
UCSD and LMU played an epic match on Oct. 3, taking a 6-6 tie into the fourth quarter of the ninth-place game at the SoCal Tournament in Los Angeles. The Tritons would hold the Lions scoreless in the final stanza, stepping out of the pool with a 7-6 victory on Allred's game-winning goal. Six different Triton players scored, led by Butler's two scores.
Before the match this Saturday, the Tritons will have their annual alumni game at 11:00 a.m.
Following the tilt with LMU, UCSD will travel to No. 3 UCLA to face the Bruins on Oct. 30 at 2:00 p.m. The following Tuesday, the Tritons will host the Stags of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 6:00 p.m. in Canyonview Pool.
