LA JOLLA, Calif. — The 13th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team hosts two final regular season non-conference games this week, welcoming Biola on Nov. 9 (6 p.m.) and Chapman on Nov. 11 (12 p.m.).
UC San Diego and Biola met earlier this season during the Triton Invitational with the host team rolling to a 17-4 victory.
Saturday will be the first meeting between UC San Diego and Chapman since 2017.
The Tritons hold a combined 11-0 all-time record against both of this week's opponents
The two contests are the team's final tune-ups for the conference tournament as the Tritons play host the first Big West Men's Water Polo Championship, Nov. 17-19, at Canyonview Aquatic Center.
INSIDE THE GAMES
Game 27: Non-Conference
• No. 13 UC San Diego (14-12) vs.
Biola (18-11)
• Thursday, November 9, 6 p.m.
•
Canyonview Aquatic Center • La Jolla, Calif. (
map)
•
Tickets
•
ESPN+ |
FOSH Live Stats
Game 28: Non-Conference
• No. 13 UC San Diego (14-12) vs.
Chapman (13-8)
• Saturday, November 11, 12 p.m.
•
Canyonview Aquatic Center • La Jolla, Calif. (
map)
•
Tickets
•
ESPN+ |
FOSH Live Stats
CLICK IT FOR TICKETS
Tickets for all home games at Canyonview Aquatic Center are available for purchase through the
Triton Box Office.
WATCH US LIVE ON ESPN+
You can watch every home game live on ESPN+ this season. Access the broadcasts online
here or on the
team's schedule page.
TRITONS V. BIOLA - THE SERIES
• All-Time Series Record: UC San Diego leads 3-0
• First Meeting: 9/16/21, UC San Diego wins 25-4 at La Mirada, Calif.
• Last Meeting: 9/2/23, UC San Diego wins 17-4 in La Jolla, Calif.
• Last Biola win: N/A
• Streak: UC San Diego 3 wins
TRITONS V. CHAPMAN - THE SERIES
• All-Time Series Record: UC San Diego leads 8-0
• First Meeting: 10/24/85, UC San Diego wins 5-0
• Last Meeting: 9/2/17, UC San Diego wins 14-1 in La Jolla, Calif.
• Last Chapman win: N/A
• Streak: UC San Diego 8 wins
THE UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS
Roster |
Schedule & Results |
Statistics
• Overall: 14-12
• Big West: 3-2
• Home: 5-5
• Away: 2-2
• Neutral: 7-5
• Streak: Won 1
• Big West Preseason Poll: 5th of 6
• ACWPC National Ranking: 13
• CWPA National Ranking: 13
THE BIOLA EAGLES
Roster |
Schedule & Results |
Statistics
• Overall: 18-11
• WWPA: 4-0
• Home: 5-3
• Away: 7-2
• Neutral: 6-6
• Streak: Won 4
• WWPA Preseason Poll: 1st of 7
• ACWPC National Ranking: N/A
• CWPA National Ranking: N/A
THE CHAPMAN PANTHERS
Roster |
Schedule & Results |
Statistics
• Overall: 13-8
• SCIAC: 8-3
• Home: 5-2
• Away: 4-3
• Neutral: 4-3
• Streak: Won 4
• SCIAC Preseason Poll: 6th of 9
• ACWPC Division 3 National Ranking: 4
• CWPA Division 3 National Ranking: 4
2023 UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returning (16)
•
Max Abravanel (Jr. ATT)
•
Bennett Axline (So. C)
•
Rhys Bugelli (Jr. ATT)
•
Emiliano Castro (Jr. D)
•
Logan Estes (Jr. GK)
•
Brendon Fezzey (So. D)
•
Kaden Likins (Sr. ATT)
•
Reef Lippa (RS-Fr. ATT)
•
Jack Martin (Jr. C)
•
Trevor Moore (Jr. ATT)
•
Luca Rago (So. D)
•
Franco Scalamandre (RS-Fr. ATT)
•
Collin Tournat (So. ATT)
•
Nikita Valajev (So. GK)
•
Matthew Wastila (So. ATT)
•
Miles Wilson (Jr. ATT)
Newcomers (12)
•
Landon Akerstrom (Fr. ATT)
•
Jaime Bhattacharyya (Fr. ATT)
•
Finn Bugelli (Fr. C)
•
Ante Buzov (Jr. UTL)
•
Felipe Ferreira (Jr. ATT)
•
Parker George (Jr. GK)
•
Alex Hegeman (Fr. GK)
•
Eamon Hennessey (Jr. UTL)
•
Augi Macchi (Jr. D)
•
Mason Presley (Fr. ATT)
•
Nolan Roberts (Fr. ATT)
•
Lucas Romaguera (Jr. ATT)
Lost (12)
•
Manuel Augusto (ATT)
•
Max Carrillo (UTL)
•
Braden Clark (ATT)
•
Konstantin Karlov (UTL)
•
Vedran Latkovic (ATT)
•
Connor Macmitchell (UTL)
•
Connor McManigal (UTL)
•
Brendan Nugent (ATT)
•
Alexander Nemeth (GK)
•
Will Riley (UTL)
•
Connor Stauffer (UTL)
• Jakub Tallman (UTL)
BIG NEWS FROM THE BIG WEST
This season, the Big West will field men's water polo again following a 32-year hiatus. The conference previously sponsored the sport from 1984-91. Joining the Tritons 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 Championship (the 2023 tournament will consist of seven conference champions plus two at-large selections). Original members of the Big West included Fresno State, Long Beach State, Pacific, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara. Two Big West programs boast national championships while competing in the conference, with UC Santa Barbara claiming the Division I men's water polo championship in 1979 while UC Irvine took home national titles in 1982 and 1989.
FIRST AND GOALS
On Sept. 14 in La Jolla, UC San Diego defeated Long Beach State 11-10 in overtime in the first Big West game in 32 years.
Rhys Bugelli scored the game-winner at 2:39 of the first overtime period to ice the inaugural victory.
Ante Buzov made his Triton debut a good one, recording a hat trick and adding three steals, three drawn exclusions, and two field blocks.
HOSTING DUTIES GO TO UC SAN DIEGO
UC San Diego is excited to play host to the 2023 Big West Men's Water Polo Championship. The tournament is slated for Nov. 17-19 at Canyonview Aquatic Center. All six conference teams qualify and the winner will earn a spot in the NCAA Championship, Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at USC.
Friday, November 17 (Quarterfinals)
Game 1: No. 4 UC Davis vs. No. 5 Long Beach State, 4:30pm
Game 2: No. 3 UC San Diego vs. No. 6 Cal State Fullerton, 6pm
Saturday, November 18 (Semifinals)
Game 3: No. 1 UC Irvine vs. Game 1 Winner, 11:30am
Game 4: No. 2 UC Santa Barbara vs. Game 2 Winner, 1pm
Sunday, November 19 (Final)
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 1pm
FEZZEY IS THE REIGNING BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wednesday,
Brendon Fezzey was named the Big West Men's Water Polo Player of the Week, the first from UC San Diego. Fezzey scored four goals, including the game-winner with 28 seconds left on the clock, to lift UC San Diego to a huge, 11-10 Big West victory over UC Davis last Saturday in La Jolla. The four goals marked a new single game high for the sophomore. Fezzey also found the net once in the first quarter before erupting for three in the final period, the first of which tied the score at 8-8 and the second that evened it at 10-10. His four goals came off five shots, an .800 shooting percentage. The win helped the Tritons secure the third seed for the upcoming Big West Men's Water Polo Championship, which UC San Diego will host at Canyonview Aquatic Center Nov. 17-19.
TRITON DEBUTS
Eleven UC San Diego players made their debut for the Tritons in the 17-4 win against Biola during the Triton Invitational (9/2). Here's a look at the list as well as the stats each newbie put up against the Eagles.
•
Landon Akerstrom: 1 goal, 1 assist
•
Jaime Bhattacharyya: 2 shots, 2 steals
•
Finn Bugelli: 2 goals, 4 shots
•
Emiliano Castro, 1 steal
•
Felipe Ferreira: 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 shots
•
Eamon Hennessey: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 drawn exclusion
•
Reef Lippa: No stats
•
Augi Macchi: No stats
•
Mason Presley: 1 assist, 1 steal
•
Nolan Roberts: 1 goal, 1 assist,
•
Lucas Romaguera: 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 shots
Other 2023 Triton Debuts
•
Ante Buzov: 9/14 vs. Long Beach State; 3 goals, 3 drawn exclusions, 3 steals, 2 field blocks (11-10 win)
SPRINTER FANS
So far this season, UC San Diego has posted a 72-35 record in sprints against opponents, good for a .673 win percentage. The Tritons have won all four sprints in five games and have gone 3-1 nine times.
RECAPS AND BOX SCORES AND MORE, OH MY!
• 11/4/23:
UC Davis 10, UC San Diego 11 *
• 10/29/23:
UC San Diego 6, UC Santa Barbara 12 *
• 10/21/23:
UC San Diego 12, LMU 13 (OT)
• 10/14/23:
Westcliff 7, UC San Diego 15
• 10/13/23:
UC San Diego 16, Cal State Fullerton 9 *
• 10/6/23:
UC Irvine 10, UC San Diego 9 *
• 10/1/23:
California Baptist 9, UC San Diego 12 4
• 10/1/23:
UC Davis 13, UC San Diego 12 4
• 9/30/23:
San Jose State 10, UC San Diego 11 4
• 9/30/23:
UC Santa Barbara 15, UC San Diego 11 4
• 9/29/23:
UC San Diego 19, Concordia 9
• 9/27/23:
LMU 11, UC San Diego 10
• 9/24/23:
California Baptist 11, UC San Diego 12 3
• 9/23/23:
UC San Diego 9, UC Irvine 10 3
• 9/23/23:
UC San Diego 22, Occidental 6 3
• 9/22/23:
UC San Diego 12, Pepperdine 15 3
• 9/15/23:
Stanford 9, UC San Diego 7
• 9/14/23:
Long Beach State 10, UC San Diego 11 (OT) *
• 9/10/23:
UC San Diego 15, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 11 2
• 9/10/23:
UC San Diego 7, #3 UCLA 14 2
• 9/9/23:
UC San Diego 16, Pomona-Pitzer 5 2
• 9/9/23:
UC San Diego 18, Cal Lutheran 7 2
• 9/3/23:
#2 USC 11, UC San Diego 9 1
• 9/3/23:
#20 Navy 8, UC San Diego 15 1
• 9/2/23:
#1 California 20, UC San Diego 5 1
• 9/2/23:
Biola 4, UC San Diego 17 1
* Big West |
4Big West-WCC Clash |
3MPSF Invitational |
2Inland Empire Classic |
1Triton Invitational
| 2023 BIG WEST STANDINGS (through 11/8) |
| Rank |
Team |
Big West |
Overall |
| 1 |
UC Irvine |
4-1 |
16-8 |
| 2 |
UC Santa Barbara |
3-2 |
16-12 |
| 2 |
UC San Diego |
3-2 |
13-12 |
| 2 |
UC Davis |
3-2 |
13-12 |
| 5 |
Long Beach State |
2-3 |
15-11 |
| 6 |
Cal State Fullerton |
0-5 |
16-14 |
ACTIVE TRITON SCORING STREAKS (through 11/8)
•
Landon Akerstrom 5
•
Bennett Axline 2
•
Eamon Hennessey 2
GAME-WINNING GOALS (through 11/8)
•
Rhys Bugelli 3 (Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, Westcliff)
•
Brendon Fezzey 3 (Navy, Concordia, UC Davis)
•
Landon Akerstrom 2 (Pomona-Pitzer, San Jose State)
•
Bennett Axline 2 (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, California Baptist-1)
•
Kaden Likins 2 (Biola, Occidental)
•
Jaime Bhattacharyya 1 (Cal Lutheran)
•
Felipe Ferreira 1 (California Baptist-2)
GOAL BREAKDOWN (through 11/8)
BIG WEST LEADERS (through 11/8)
Goals
9.
Landon Akerstrom, 44
Goals/Game
8.
Landon Akerstrom, 1.7
Assists
2.
Kaden Likins, 38
5.
Lucas Romaguera, 30
7.
Miles Wilson, 29
Assists/Game
2.
Kaden Likins, 1.5
5.
Lucas Romaguera, 1.2
9.
Miles Wilson, 1.1
Points
8.
Kaden Likins, 67
Points/Game
8.
Kaden Likins, 2.6
9.
Lucas Romaguera, 2.5
Field Blocks
3.
Brendon Fezzey, 9
Steals
3.
Logan Estes, 36
5.
Lucas Romaguera, 29
8.
Landon Akerstrom, 27
9.
Felipe Ferreira, 26
Steals/Game
4.
Logan Estes, 1.4
5.
Ante Buzov, 1.2
7.
Landon Akerstrom, 1.1
Sprint Wins
3.
Felipe Ferreira, 35
5.
Landon Akerstrom, 21
Sprint Win Percentage
1.
Felipe Ferreira, .761 (35-11)
3.
Landon Akerstrom, .636 (21-12)
Saves
2.
Logan Estes, 201
9.
Nikita Valajev, 31
Saves/Game
2.
Logan Estes, 7.7
Save Percentage
2.
Logan Estes, .455
Goals Against Average
4.
Logan Estes, 10.42
TRITON RECORDS (through 11/8)
| Overall |
14-12 |
| Big West |
3-2 |
| Non-conference |
11-10 |
| At home |
5-5 |
| On the road |
2-2 |
| At at neutral site |
7-5 |
| In overtime |
1-1 |
| Scoring 4-6 goals |
0-2 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-5 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
5-5 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
3-0 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
4-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
1-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
1-0 |
| More steals than opponent |
14-3 |
| Opponent has more steals |
0-8 |
| Steals are even |
0-1 |
| More shots than opponent |
11-3 |
| Opponent has more shots |
3-7 |
| Shots are even |
0-2 |
| More exclusions than opponent |
5-3 |
| Opponent has more exclusions |
4-8 |
| Exclusions are even |
5-1 |
| More field blocks than opponent |
5-4 |
| Opponent has more field blocks |
5-6 |
| Field blocks are even |
3-2 |
| On Wednesdays |
0-1 |
| On Thursdays |
1-0 |
| On Fridays |
2-3 |
| On Saturdays |
7-4 |
| On Sundays |
4-4 |
USHA ON TRITONCAST
Just prior to the season kicking off, Triton head coach Matt Ustaszewski was a guest on Tritoncast, UC San Diego's weekly podcast show. He previewed the season and talked about team personnel and expectations for the year. You can hear that interview
here.
RHYS BUGELLI NAMED TO ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM
UC San Diego junior standout
Rhys Bugelli was named to the 2023 All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team earlier this week. In 2022, the attacker was tabbed All-Western Water Polo Association Second Team after finishing with 61 points, third-most on the Triton roster. His 47 goals were second on the team. Bugelli scored at least once in 22 of 23 games played and netted multiple goals in 13 contests. Defensively, he led the Tritons in steals with 22.
2023 ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM
Logan Anderson, junior attacker, UC Davis
Alex Aznar Beltran, junior utility, UC Davis
Rhys Bugelli, junior attacker, UC San Diego
Evan Cain, sophomore attacker, Long Beach State
Bruno Chiappini, sophomore utility, Long Beach State
Dash McFarland, junior center, UC Santa Barbara
Guillermo Ocasio, senior utility, Long Beach State
Ethan Shipman, junior attacker, UC Irvine
Aaron Wilson, junior goalkeeper, UC Davis
2023 BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. UC Davis, 21 points (2 first-place votes)
T-2. Long Beach State, 19 (2)
T-2. UC Santa Barbara, 19 (1)
4. UC Irvine, 15 (1)
5. UC San Diego, 11
6. Cal State Fullerton, 5
2022 SNAPSHOT
In 2022, UC San Diego's final season as a member of the Western Water Polo Association, the Tritons compiled a 14-13 overall record with a 6-2 mark in conference play. As the third seed at the WWPA Championship at Loyola Marymount, UC San Diego earned a spot in the title game by topping sixth-seeded California Baptist in a quarterfinal and second-seeded LMU in a semifinal. An epic championship match-up ensued, with top-seeded and reigning WWPA champion UC Davis coming away with a narrow, 13-12 victory in overtime. Led by first year head coach
Matt Ustaszewski, UC San Diego was ranked as high as 10th in the nation.
2022 HONOR ROLL
Vedran Latkovic was selected to the All-WWPA First Team,
Rhys Bugelli was named to the second team,
Alexander Nemeth picked up honorable mention accolades, and
Bennett Axline was chosen as the WWPA Freshman of the Year and named to the WWPA All-Freshman Team. Latkovic also earned All-America Honorable Mention from the ACWPC.
| 2023 CWPA NATIONAL POLL (11/8) |
| Rank |
Team |
Last Poll |
| 1 |
UCLA |
1 |
| 2 |
California |
2 |
| 3 |
USC |
4 |
| 4 |
Stanford |
3 |
| 5 |
UC Irvine |
6 |
| 6 (tie) |
Pepperdine |
5 |
| 6 (tie) |
Princeton |
8 |
| 8 |
Long Beach State |
7 (tie) |
| 9 |
UC Santa Barbara |
11 |
| 10 |
UC Davis |
9 |
| 11 |
Harvard |
10 |
| 12 |
Loyola Marymount |
12 |
| 13 |
UC San Diego |
13 |
| 14 |
San Jose State |
14 |
| 15 |
Fordham |
15 |
| 16 |
California Baptist |
16 |
| 17 |
Pacific |
18 |
| 18 (tie) |
Navy |
20 |
| 18 (tie) |
Santa Clara |
17 |
| 20 |
Brown |
19 |
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2023 CWPA NATIONAL POLL
• Week 10 (11/8): 13
• Week Nine (11/1): 13
• Week Eight (10/25): 12
• Week Seven (10/18): 11
• Week Six (10/11): 11 (tie)
• Week Five (10/4): 11
• Week Four (9/27): 11
• Week Three (9/20): 9 (tie)
• Week Two (9/13): 14
• Week One (9/6): 12
• Preseason (8/23): 11 (tie)
| 2023 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL (11/8) |
| Rank |
Team |
| 1 |
UCLA |
| 2 |
California |
| 3 |
USC |
| 4 |
Stanford |
| 5 |
Pepperdine |
| 6 |
Princeton |
| 7 (tie) |
Princeton |
| 7 (tie) |
UC Irvine |
| 9 |
Long Beach State |
| 10 |
UC Santa Barbara |
| 11 |
Harvard |
| 12 |
Loyola Marymount |
| 13 |
UC San Diego |
| 14 |
San Jose State |
| 15 |
Fordham |
| 16 |
California Baptist |
| 17 |
Pacific |
| 18 |
Navy |
| 19 |
Brown |
| 20 |
Santa Clara |
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2023 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL
• Week 10 (11/8): 13
• Week Nine (11/1): 12
• Week Eight (10/25): 11
• Week Seven (10/18): 11
• Week Six (10/11): 11
• Week Five (10/4): 11
• Week Four (9/27): 10
• Week Three (9/20): 9
• Week Two (9/13): 13
• Week One (9/6): 12
THEY CALL HIM USHA
UC San Diego is led by second-year head coach Matt "Usha" Ustaszewski, who took over in 2022 for Denny Harper, who announced his retirement in July after 42 years at the helm. Ustaszewski earned his first victory as UC San Diego's head coach on Sept. 3, 2022, as the Tritons defeated La Verne, 22-8, in the team's season opener during the Triton Invitational. In 2021, Ustaszewski completed his ninth season 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 for 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.
| Season |
Wins |
Losses |
Pct. |
Conference/Finish |
Wins |
Losses |
Pct. |
Highest NCAA Rank |
| 2023 |
14 |
12 |
.538 |
Big West |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
9 (ACWPC), 9 (CWPA) |
| 2022 |
14 |
13 |
.519 |
WWPA/3rd of 8 |
6 |
2 |
.750 |
10 (CWPA) |
| Totals |
28 |
25 |
.528 |
- |
9 |
4 |
.692 |
- |
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire UC San Diego athletics program is currently in the final year of a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the
Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
GAME DAY HAS GONE DIGITAL
Triton fans can find game day information online as game programs have gone digital! Fans can visit
https://bit.ly/MWPgameday from their smart phone or scan the QR code at the entrance to Canyonview Aquatic Center for everything they need to know about each home game including updated rosters, schedules, and stats for each team, as well as watch and live stats links.
WHY THE TRITONS?
The 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.
GET SOCIAL WITH MEN'S WATER POLO
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through
Twitter and
Instagram. The team's handle is @ucsdmwp.
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the
Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories,
click here.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have 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.
