UCLA
23-1
California
12-12
No. 1 UCLA Advances to MPSF Championship Game
November 23, 2024 | Men's Water Polo
LOS ANGELES -- Top-ranked UCLA (23-1) advanced to the 2024 MPSF Men's Water Polo Championship Tournament finals with a 16-14 win on Saturday afternoon over three-time defending NCAA Champions and seventh-seeded California (12-12) at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins improved to 96-77 in the series history against the Golden Bears.
A total of eight Bruins scored in the game, paced by a season- and career-high-tying five goals from graduate transfer Nico Tierney. Freshman Ryder Dodd scored four goals to improve his scoring on the year to 21 goals in the four victories over the Golden Bears.
Super senior Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, just missing a career-high-tying tally in saves with 14 (had 15 in the win over USC on Senior Day), while allowing 14 goals.
The two teams battled to a 3-3 draw at the end of the first period. UCLA won the second period, 5-4, to claim an 8-7 lead at halftime.
UCLA won the third quarter, 6-3, to extend the lead to 14-10 heading into the final stanza. Sophomore Ben Liechty scored his second goal of the game (2:37 to go) to help UCLA enjoy its largest lead of the game at 16-11. California would score the final three goals of the game to provide the 16-14 final.
Up Next: The Bruins will face third-ranked and fifth-seeded USC in the Championship game after the Trojans upset second-seeded Stanford, 18-16, in overtime in the other semifinal. The Bruins and the Trojans will square off for the fourth time this season on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 3:00 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The game is sold out, but you can show up to stand in line for standby tickets that might become available. UCLA is 3-0 against the Trojans heading into the title match.
No. 7 California at No. 1UCLA (2024 MPSF Men's Water Polo Championship Tournament Semifinal - Game 24)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 7 California | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 16 |
6x5 - UCLA - 8/15 - CAL - 6/13
Penalties - UCLA - 1/1 - CAL - 0/1
CAL Goals: Albert Ponferrada 4, Max Casabella 3, George Avakian 3, Bende Pardi 2, Alex Oprea 1, Nik Mirkovic 1
CAL Saves: Max LaGrange 7
UCLA Goals: Nico Tierney 5, Ryder Dodd 4, Ben Liechty 2, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Eli Liechty 1, Marcell Szécsi 1, Peter Castillo 1, Chase Dodd 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 14
Team Stats
George Avakian
06:47
Ryder Dodd
06:26
Nico Tierney
05:50
Nico Tierney
05:04
Albert Ponferrada
02:33
Albert Ponferrada
00:41
Nico Tierney
07:05
Nico Tierney
06:11
Max Casabella
05:49
Peter Castillo
05:04
Alex Oprea
04:49
Frederico Jucá Carsalade
02:41
Max Casabella
02:17
Eli Liechty
01:44
Albert Ponferrada
00:38
Ryder Dodd
07:31
George Avakian
07:03
Marcell Szécsi
04:43
Chase Dodd
04:16
Nik Mirkovic
03:37
Ryder Dodd
02:16
Albert Ponferrada
01:45
Ryder Dodd
01:16
Nico Tierney
00:31
Max Casabella
04:54
Ben Liechty
03:32
Ben Liechty
02:37
Bende Pardi
01:37
Bende Pardi
00:52
George Avakian
00:16
