UCLA
15-0
Air Force
13-9
No. 1 UCLA Soars Past Air Force, 14-8
September 30, 2023 | Men's Water Polo
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LOS ANGELES -- No. 1 UCLA (15-0) soared past the Air Force Falcons (13-9), 14-8, on Saturday night at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins improved to 26-0 all-time in the series history with Air Force.Though the Bruins rested their starters, UCLA still had a 12 different players score in the contest, including a career-high two scores and four points (two assists) for redshirt freshman Jack Hilinski. Redshirt sophomore Trey Doten also scored twice to help pace the Bruin offense.
Senior Chase Honaker got the start in the cage and played the first and third quarters, tallying four saves while surrendering five goals. Senior Bernardo Maurizi made his season debut and played the second and fourth quarters, registering three stops while allowing three goals.
The two teams battled to a 3-3 start in the first period. The Bruins received one goal each from redshirt freshman Frederico Jucá Carsalade, Hilinski, and Doten.
The Bruins dominated the second quarter, 6-1, to take an 9-4 lead into the break. Six different Bruins scored a goal apiece in the second period, highlighted by the first goal of the season for redshirt junior Maximo Rossi, who had missed the previous 12 games with an undisclosed injury. Sophomore Noah Rowe, redshirt sophomore Mark Laurlund, redshirt freshmen Ben Larsen and Vinnie Merk, and Doten (his second) all scored in the second frame.
The two squads battled to a 2-2 draw as UCLA would lead 11-6 heading into the final stanza. Freshman Wade Sherlock and Hilinski (his second) scored the only goals in the third for UCLA.
The Bruins won the fourth period, 3-2, to provide the 14-8 final. Redshirt sophomores Grant Loth and Griffin Engstrom, and redshirt junior Luke Makshanoff each scored a goal in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT: The Bruins return to MPSF play next week with two huge road games at No. 2 California and No. 4 Stanford. The Bruins will face the Golden Bears at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, and the Cardinal at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8.
No. 1 UCLA vs. Air Force (Non-Conference Game - Game 15)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| Air Force | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
6x5 - UCLA - 1/9 - AF - 4/7
Penalties - UCLA - 3/4 - AF - 0/0
AF Goals: Tom Leggett 3, Jacob Yi 2, Colin Chase 1, Alex Zarcu 1, Jack Richards 1
AF Saves: Liam Markus 4, Luca Smith 4
UCLA Goals: Jack Hilinski 2, Trey Doten 2, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Ben Larsen 1, Mark Laurlund 1, Noah Rowe 1, Wade Sherlock 1, Griffin Engstrom 1, Luke Makshanoff 1, Maximo Rossi 1, Grant Loth 1, Vinnie Merk 1
UCLA Saves: Chase Honaker 4, Bernardo Maurizi 3
Team Stats
Team
7:23
Colin Chase
5:47
Jack Hilinski
4:56
Trey Doten
1:14
Jacob Yi
1:00
Tom Leggett
0:19
Noah Rowe
6:59
Mark Laurlund
6:14
Ben Larsen
4:41
Maximo Rossi
3:53
Trey Doten
3:02
Vinnie Merk
1:52
Tom Leggett
0:00
Jacob Yi
4:12
Wade Sherlock
3:47
Alex Zarcu
2:37
Jack Hilinski
0:11
Grant Loth
7:08
Griffin Engstrom
5:11
Luke Makshanoff
4:03
Tom Leggett
0:00
Team
0:00
