Saturday, September 2
San Diego, CA
10:40 AM
UCLA
12
vs
8
UC Santa Barbara
Rafael Real Vergara, a transfer from Long Beach State, made a great first impression with a hat trick and the eventual game-winning goal against UCSB.
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
No. 3 UCLA Powers Past No. 7 UC Santa Barbara, 12-8
September 02, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
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SAN DIEGO --ย The third-ranked Bruins (1-0) maintained their dominance over No. 7 UC Santa Barbara (0-1), with a 12-8 win to open the 2023 season on Saturday morning in the Triton Invitationalย at Canyonview Pool. It marked the 16th-consecutive win over the Gauchos as the Bruins improved to 110-17-1 in the series history.A total of seven different Bruins scored in the game, paced by three goals from senior Rafael Real Vergara, including the eventual game-winning goal on a penalty shot that was drawn by redshirt sophomore Eli Liechty. Senior Makoto Kenney, redshirt senior Giorgio Alessandria and freshman Ben Liechty each scored twice for the Bruins.ย
Senior Garret Griggsย got the start in the cage and went the distance, tallying eight saves while giving up eight goals. He also registered a career-high four steals in the win.
The two teams battled to a 3-3 draw in the first quarter. The Bruins trailed 2-0, before scoring three straight goals to take their first lead of the game (1:00). Freshman Marcellย Szécsi scored the first UCLA goal of 2023 at the 5:20 mark from two meters off a feed from Real Vergara. Redshirt freshman Ben Larsen scored his first collegiate goal (4:23) on a power play to tie it at 2-2. Then Kenney scored the go-ahead goal on a counter (1:00). The Gauchos scored with 0:38 left to tie it up.
UCSB won the second period, 3-2, to take a 6-5 lead into the break. The Bruins scored the first two goals as Kenney added his second from the front court (7:25) and Alessandria netted his first (5:20) on a power play off a beautiful no-look feed from Kenney to push the lead to 5-3. But the Gauchos roared back with three unanswered goals to grab the lead at halftime.
The Bruins would win the third period, 3-2, to tie it up 8-8 heading into the fourth. UCSB led 8-6 after sandwiching goals between Alessandria's second of the game (5:16) on a front court score. The Bruins would shut the Gauchos down for the last 12:50 of the game to complete the come-from-behind win. Real Vergara mounted the comeback with his first goal of the game (1:36) on a power play. Ben Liechtyย tied the game at 8-8 with a counter attack goal (0:27), his first score of the contest.
The Bruins dominated the fourth quarter, 4-0, to provide the 12-8 final. Real Vergara knotched his second of the game on a penalty shot to open the scoring in the fourth (6:33), putting UCLA up 9-8. Ben Leichty added his second score (4:47) from the front court off a feed from Kenney to extend the lead to 10-8. Redshirt senior Jack Larsen scored his first of the game on a power play (3:53) off an assist from Ben Liechty to make it 11-8. Real Vergara then completed his hat trick, scoring the Bruins' six-straight goal in the process, off a front court strike (1:09) to end the scoring.
UP NEXT: The Bruins will take on Cal State Fullerton today at 3:45 p.m. PT at Triton Pool.
No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 7 UC Santa Barbara (Triton Invitational - Game 1)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 7 UCSB | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| No. 3 UCLA | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
6x5 -ย UCLA - 4/7 - UCSB - 1/7
Penalties -ย UCLA - 1/1 - UCSB - 0/0
UCSB Goals:ย James Oriskovichย 2, Logan Sutter 2,ย Luke Redouteyย 1, Dash McFarland 1, Mason Chambliss 1, Sam McKenzie 1
UCSB Saves:ย UCSD did not track goalie stats
UCLA Goals:ย Rafael Real Vergara 3, Ben Liechty 2, Makoto Kenney 2, Giorgio Alessandria 2, Marcellย Szécsi 1, Ben Larsen 1, Jack Larsen 1
UCLA Saves:ย Garret Griggs 8
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
CTR
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
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