Sunday, September 10
Redlands, CA
9:30 AM
UCLA
14
vs
7
UC San Diego
Federico Jucá Carsalade scored the first hat trick of his young Bruin career today against the Tritons.
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
No. 3 UCLA Cruises Past No. 12 UC San Diego, 14-7
September 10, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
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CLAREMONT, Calif. -- Third-ranked UCLA (6-0) remained undefeated on the year with a 14-7 win on Sunday morning over No. 12 UC San Diego (4-3) at the Inland Empire Classic at Matt M. Axelrood Pool on the campus of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The Bruins improved to 61-1 all-time against the Tritons.A total of eight different Bruins scored in the contest, paced by hat tricks from senior Rafael Real Vergara, redshirt freshman Frederico Jucá Carsalade, and reigning MPSF Newcomer of the Week, Ben Liechty.
Senior Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, registering his second-straight game with double-digit saves (10) to go with one steal and one assist, while surrendering seven goals.
UC San Diego scored the game's first goal (7:15) but the Bruins would score the next three to lead 3-1 at the end of the first period. UCLA would never trail again. Ben Liechty got the Bruins on the board with a strike from the front court off an assist from senior Makoto Kenney (4:25). Real Vergara gave the Bruins the lead when he converted a penalty shot (3:00) that was drawn by redshirt sophomore Eli Liechty. Redshirt freshman Ben Larsen ended the scoring in the first when he found the back of the net from the front court (2:18) off an assist from his older brother, senior Jack Larsen.
UC San Diego won the second quarter, 2-1, to trim the Bruins' lead to 4-3 at the break. The Bruins' lone goal in the period was provided by Jucá Carsalade from the front court with 4:44 to go in the second.
The Bruins broke the game open in the third period, outscoring the Tritons 7-3 to take a 11-6 advantage into the final period. Freshman Wade Sherlock opened the scoring in the second half with a counter goal (7:33) to push the lead to 5-3. Sophomore Noah Rowe would follow with his first goal of the game from the front court (6:52) and Real Vergara netted his second (5:22) with a goal from two meters off a feed from Jack Larsen to push the lead to 7-3. After a goal by the Tritons, Jucá Carsalade scored his second from the front court (3:58) and Real Vergara completed his hat trick (2:32) to give the Bruins a 9-4 lead. For Real Vergara, it marked his fourth-consecutive hat trick (has only played in four games). The two teams would trade two more goals apiece to end the third period with Ben Liechty scoring both of UCLA's goals to complete his hat trick (0:49 and 0:01). The first was on a 6-on-5 and was assisted by Real Vergara and the final one was on a 7-on-6 and was assisted by Kenney.
The Bruins won the fourth period, 3-1, to provide the 14-7 final. Jack Larsen opened the scoring in the fourth with a power play goal (6:37) off a feed from Ben Liechty. Kenney then called his own number and scored from the front court (5:24) to make it 13-6. Jucá Carsalade completed his hat trick with a counter attack goal off an assist from Griggs (0:30). The Tritons ended the scoring in the game with a power play goal by Eamon Hennessey (0:04).
UP NEXT: The Bruins will take on Cal Lutheran later today (2:30 p.m. PT) to conclude play at the Inland Empire Classic.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 12 UC San Diego (Inland Empire Classic - Game 6)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 12 UCSD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 14 |
6x5 - UCLA - 2/6 - UCSD - 3/10
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - UCSD - 1/1
UCSD Goals: Eamon Hennessey 1, Felipe Ferreira 1, Landon Akerstrom 1, Bennett Axline 1, Nolan Roberts 1, Lucas Romaguera 1, Brendon Fezzey 1
UCSD Saves: Logan Estes 5
UCLA Goals: Frederico Jucá Carsalade 3, Rafael Real Vergara 3, Ben Liechty 3, Ben Larsen 1, Jack Larsen 1, Noah Rowe 1, Wade Sherlock 1, Makoto Kenney 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 10
Players Mentioned
GK
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ATK
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UTL
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UTL
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CTR
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ATK
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