University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
The Bruins (Rafael Real Vergara (Player), Ben Liechty (Newcomer) and Adam Wright (Coach)) claimed all three year-end honors.
School-Record Nine Bruins Claim 2023 Delfina All-MPSF West Honors
November 15, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
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LOS ANGELESย โ Theย UCLA Bruins had a league-best and school-record nine players earn 2023ย Delfinaย All-MPSFย West accolades as announced by the league office today. The previous high of eight players was establishedย in 2016 and later equaled in 2020 and again in 2022.
The Bruins swept all three individuals honors with senior Rafael Real Vergara being named the Player of the Year, freshman Ben Liechty selected as the Newcomer of the Year and Head Coach Adam Wright tabbed as the Coach of the Year.
Real Vergara (Sao Paulo, Brazil) enters the postseason with an MPSF-high 56 goals on the year (3.11 GPG). He has completed 13 regular season hat tricks, 15 multiple-goal games, and tallied in 16 of the 18 games he has competed. Vergara accumulated 15 of his 30 goals against MPSF opponents across three wins over USC. In the Overnght MPSF Invitational, he exploded for 16 goals, five assists and two steals over three outings which led to his first Delfina MPSF Player of the Week honor. In the regular season finale, to cap off the MPSF's first unbeaten regular season since the 2015 Bruins, Vergara delivered five of UCLA's 10 goals along with two steals, leading to his second career Delfina MPSF Player of the Week award. Vergara represents UCLA's fifth all-time MPSF Player of the Year recognition, and the first in seven years (Garrett Danner-2015-16, Scott Davidson-2009, Sean Kern-2000).
Liechty (Newport Beach, Calif.) was named MPSF S & R Sport Newcomer of the Week a conference-high-tying twice this year. Liechty first earned the honor following his collegiate debut, as he helped the Bruins to a 4-0 record at the season-opening Triton Invitational (Sept. 2-3) with a team-high 10 goals. He then scored his fourth career hat trick on four shots in a 13-9 MPSF home win over No. 2 California (Oct. 28), and drew three exclusions in helping the Bruins clinch the MPSF's top seed. Liechty scored 33 regular season goals, second-most on the Bruins, including in his first nine collegiate games. He scored in 16 of the 21 games he played, and recorded 13 multiple-goal outings. Liechty is the third Bruin all-time to earn MPSF Newcomer of the Year recognition (Makoto Kenney-2020, Garrett Danner-2013).
Wright guided the top-ranked Bruins to an unbeaten 23-0 regular season, the first undefeated regular season in the MPSF since UCLA's 2015 team. Eight of UCLA's wins were against MPSFย West teams, including seven against top fiveย competition, and 16 of the 23 overall wins came against top 10 opponents. The Bruins scored in double-digits in all 23 contests, and held opponents to single-digits 16 times. UCLA placed an MPSF-high nine players on the All-MPSF teams this year, including four on the first team. Wright is 341-63 overall (.844) since taking over the UCLA program in 2009. This is the third MPSF Coach of the Year award for Wright (2017, 2011), and the third such recognition overall for UCLA Men's Water Polo.
Joining Real Vergara on the Delfina All-MPSF First-Team was redshirt senior Jack Larsen (Orinda, Calif.), senior Makoto Kenney (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and senior Garret Griggs (Riverside, Calif.). It marked the second All-Conference honor for Larsen, the third for Kenney, and the first for Griggs.
Joining Liechty on the Delfina All-MPSF Second-Team was redshirt freshman Frederico Jucá Carsalade (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and redshirt senior Giorgio Alessandria (Lafayette, Calif.). It markedย the first time all three players have earned All-MPSF accolades in their careers.
Two Bruins garnered Honorable Mention All-MPSF honors. The duo consisted of redshirt freshman Ben Larsen (Lafayette, Calif.)ย and freshman Marcell Szécsi (Budapest, Hungary). It marked the first time both players have garnered All-MPSF accolades.
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