Friday, December 6
Stanford, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
UCLA
vs
Salem
Top-seeded UCLA heads to the Bay Area seeking 13th NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship.
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
Top-Seeded UCLA Heads to NCAA Championship Tournament
December 04, 2024 | Men's Water Polo
LOS ANGELES โ No. 1 UCLA (23-2) earned an at-large bid into the 2024 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship and was seeded first, placing the Bruins in the first quarterfinal game as announced by the NCAA Men's Water Polo Committee (Nov. 25) on its Selection Show. The eight teams vying for the 2024 NCAA National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship will be in competition Dec. 6-8 at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center. There will be a new champion crowned this season as the Bruins essentially eliminated the three-time defending champs, California, in the semifinals of the MPSF Championship Tournament. UCLA will be seeking its 13th NCAA title in the sport and the school's 124th overall. Marking the second-straight year the Bruins have earned the overall No. 1 seed, UCLA will face Salem (20-3) in the first quarterfinal game on Friday, Dec. 6 at Noon. The second game will take place at 2:00 p.m. and will feature No. 4 Stanford (21-4) against Princeton (23-8). The third quarterfinal at 4:00 p.m. will pit No. 2 USC (21-5) against California Baptist University (23-13). The last quarterfinal, slated for 6:00 p.m., will be Fordham (30-0) against Long Beach State (20-10). The semifinals will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The NCAA Championship will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 live on ESPNU.
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Friday, Dec. 6 (2024 MPSF Men's Water Polo Championship Tournamentย - Avery Aquatic Center)
12:00 PM PT โ Game 3: No. 4 Austin College vs. No. 5 USCย |ย WATCHย |ย LIVE STATS
Saturday, Dec. 7 (Semifinal)
2:00 PMย PT โ TBD
Sunday, Dec. 8 (Championship)
03:00ย PM PT โ TBD
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first-ever meeting between UCLA and Salem. The Bruins are 100-92-1 against No. 2 USC, 3-0 vs. No. 3 Fordham, 83-92 vs. No. 4 Stanford, 21-0 vs. Princeton, 105-21-1 vs. Long Beach State, and 14-0 vs. California Baptist University. UCLA went 7-2 against the NCAA tournament field in 2024 (3-1 vs. USC, 1-1 vs. Stanford, 2-0 vs. Princeton, and 1-0 vs. CBU).
RECAPPING 2024 MPSFย CHAMPIONSHIP
Top-ranked and top-seeded UCLA fell to third-ranked USC in the title game of the 2024 MPSF Championship on Nov. 24 at UCLA's Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center by a score of 15-13. UCLA had a total of seven players score in the contest, paced by a season-high-tying three goals from sophomore Wade Sherlock. Sophomore Ben Liechty led all scorers with seven points (two goals and five assists) and freshman Ryder Dodd was second with six points (two goals, four assists). Redshirt sophomores Frederico Jucá Carsalade and Ben Larsen also contributed multiple goals, each scoring twice. Graduate student Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and played the first half, tallying four saves while allowing nine goals. Redshirt freshman Nate Tauscher came on in relief and played the second half, registering five saves, two steals, and drawing one exclusion while surrendering the final six scores. The Bruins advanced to the finals with a 16-14 win (Nov. 23) over three-time defending NCAA Champions and seventh-seeded California. 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. UCLA opened the tournament with an 18-2 win over eighth-seeded Washington & Jefferson (Nov. 22). The Bruins had a total of 12 players score in the contest, paced by redshirt junior Eli Liechty, who tied his season-high with the second hat trick of the year.
RYDER DODD NAMED MPSF PLAYER & NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Freshman attacker Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS) enters the NCAA Championship with an MPSF-high 90 goals on the year (3.60 GPG), ranking him ninth in MPSF single-season history and second in UCLA history. He also has 30 assists for a conference-leading 120 points. Dodd has scored in all 25 games, with multiple goals in all but one. A four-time MPSF weekly award honoree, earning Delfina MPSF West Player of the Week and S&R Sport Newcomer of the Week twice each, Ryder Dodd also owns the UCLA freshman scoring record. In the regular season finale (Nov. 16), he recorded his 14th hat trick of the year with five goals to lead the Bruins to a 16-9 win over No. 4 USC. He led a pair of MPSF road wins at No. 7 California and No. 2 Stanford (Nov. 2-3), helping the Bruins clinch the No. 1 seed in the MPSF Tournament. He scored six goals and drew five exclusions in the 20-14 win at Cal, and scored all four of the Bruins' fourth quarter goals. He scored a career-best eight goals in an 18-12 win at then-No. 7 Pepperdine (Oct. 12). Ryder Dodd, the only freshman on the Delfina All-MPSF First Team, is UCLA's sixth all-time MPSF Player of the Year recipient (Rafael Real Vergara-2023, Garrett Danner-2015-16, Scott Davidson-2009, Sean Kern-2000) and is the fourth Bruin to earn MPSF Newcomer of the Year (Ben Liechty-2023, Makoto Kenney-2020, Garrett Danner-2013). Ryder Dodd also becomes the first-ever MPSF Men's Water Polo player to earn both major awards in the same year.
ADAM WRIGHT NAMED MPSF COACH OF THE YEAR
Wright has guided the Bruins to a 23-2 record in 2024 and a 5-1 mark in conference play, leading to the MPSF's top seed in the MPSF and NCAA tournaments. As the top-ranked team for the majority of the season, UCLA has posted 18 wins over top 15 ranked opponents, 11 wins over the top 10, and four over the top five. The Bruins allowed double-digit goals in just eight of their 25 contests, while reaching that threshold offensively in all but one game. UCLA placed a league-best and school-record-tying high of nine players on the 2024 Delfina All-MPSF teams, and became the first in league history to sweep the three major awards for two consecutive years. This is the fourth MPSF Coach of the Year award for Wright (2023-24, 2017, 2011), and overall for UCLA Men's Water Polo
Joiningย Ryder Doddย on the Delfina All-MPSF First Team is redshirt juniorย Chase Doddย (Long Beach, Calif.), and graduateย Makoto Kenneyย (Costa Mesa, Calif.). It marks the fourth All-Conference honor for Kenney and the second forย Chase Dodd.ย Three Bruins landed on the Delfina All-MPSF Second Team, which includedย redshirt sophomore Frederico Jucá Carsalade (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), sophomoreย Ben Liechtyย (Newport Beach, Calif.), and freshmanย Peter Castilloย (Costa Mesa, Calif.). It marksย the second time Jucá Carsalade and Liechty have earned All-MPSF accolades in their careers.ย Another three Bruins garnered Honorable Mention All-MPSF honors. The trio consisted of graduate transfersย Nico Tierneyย (Sierra Madre, Calif.),ย Aaron Voggenthalerย (Poway, Calif.) and graduate studentย Garret Griggsย (Riverside, Calif.). It marks the first All-MPSF awards for Tierney and Voggenthaler and the second for Griggs.
SCHOOL-RECORD-TYING NINE BRUINS CLAIM 2024 MPSF WEST HONORS
Joining Ryder Dodd on the Delfina All-MPSF First Team is redshirt junior Chase Dodd (Long Beach, Calif.), and graduate Makoto Kenney (Costa Mesa, Calif.). It marks the fourth All-Conference honor for Kenney and the second for Chase Dodd. Three Bruins landed on the Delfina All-MPSF Second Team, which included redshirt sophomore Frederico Jucá Carsalade (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), sophomore Ben Liechty (Newport Beach, Calif.), and freshman Peter Castillo (Costa Mesa, Calif.). It marks the second time Jucá Carsalade and Liechty have earned All-MPSF accolades in their careers. Another three Bruins garnered Honorable Mention All-MPSF honors. The trio consisted of graduate transfers Nico Tierney (Sierra Madre, Calif.), Aaron Voggenthaler (Poway, Calif.) and graduate student Garret Griggs (Riverside, Calif.). It marks the first All-MPSF awards for Tierney and Voggenthaler and the second for Griggs.
THREE BRUINS NAMED TO CUTINOย AWARD WATCH LIST
For the third year, USA Water Polo and The Olympic Club are excited to collaborate with the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) on the Cutino Award Watch List. The Peter J. Cutino Award, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, recognizes the best player in men's and women's college water polo.ย This watch list was created in 2022 in an effort to help promote the college game, awareness of the honor, and the excellent play of athletes around the country. 20 athletes, as submittedย by varsity college coaches around the country, are recognized for their outstanding play. The top 20 athletes are represented below and are listed in alphabetical order.ย UCLA freshmanย Ryder Doddย (Long Beach, Calif. / JSerra Catholic HS), redshirt juniorย Chase Doddย (Long Beach, Calif. / Huntington Beach HS), and graduate studentย Makoto Kenneyย (Costa Mesa, Calif. / Newport Harbor HS) have been named to the list in 2024.
RYDER DODD SETTING, SEEKING SCORING RECORDS
True freshman Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS) has established the UCLA freshman record for goals in a single season with 90, which leads the MPSF in 2024. Dodd surpassed Alex Rousseau's mark of 60 goals during his freshman campaign in 1986. Rousseau is the Bruins' all-time leading scorer with 290 career goals (1986-89). Dodd's mark also currently sits at No. 2 on the UCLA single-season scoring charts and at No. 9 on the MPSF charts for most goals in a season. The UCLA single-season record is 115 goals, recorded by Stefan Pollmann during the 1990 campaign. The MPSF single-season record of 101 goals was tallied by UC Irvine's Ryan Bailey in 1998. Dodd just passed Stanford great Tony Azevedo (89 goals in 2003) with his 90th goal in the loss to USC in the MPSF Championship game on Nov. 24, 2024.
BRUINS DOMINATING CWPA TOP 20 POLLS
UCLA is the only team in the nation to be ranked in the top three in the CWPA Top 20 Men's Varsity Poll every week since 2020 (last 68 weeks). The streak began with the 2020 Preseason Poll (Dec. 30, 2020), a season that was contested in the winter of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2020 to 2022, the Bruins spent eight combined weeks at No. 1 (out of 40 total weeks). But the Bruins have been more impressive in the last two years, being ranked at the top for a combined 19 of 28 weeks, including 11 of the 13 weeks this season (UCLA was second on Oct. 9 and Oct. 16). The last time the Bruins were ranked outside the top three in the CWPA Top 20 Men's Varsity Poll was on the final poll of the 2019 season (ranked fifth on Dec. 11, 2019).
GARRET GRIGGS CLIMBING GOALIE CHARTS
Graduate goalkeeper Garret Griggs (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly HS) is climbing the UCLA career chart for saves and he currently sits in seventh place with 606 total saves (2020-24). He needs 23 to pass Alex Wolf (2015, 2017-19), who had 628 saves in his Bruin career. Griggs, who has 170 saves during the 2024 campaign (9.27 saves per game), has a career average of 9.84 saves per game over the 73 contests he has played. He has made 66 career starts and has gone 60-6 (.909) overall in his career. Additionally, he finished fourth on the single-season charts with 238 saves during the 2023 season.
UCLA PICKED TO WIN THEย MPSF
UCLA collected 60 points and five first-place votes in topping the 2024 MPSF Men's Water Polo Western Division Preseason Coaches' poll. The Bruins return seven of their top-eight scorers and a starting goalkeeper from an NCAA runner-up season, including Delfina All-MPSF selectionsย Jack Larsenย (40 goals),ย Makoto Kenneyย (27 goals), and goalkeeperย Garret Griggsย (238 saves, 8.95 GAA). Also returning are MPSF Newcomer of the Yearย Ben Liechtyย (41 goals), Frederico Jucá Carsalade (32 goals), andย Giorgio Alessandriaย (21 goals) from All-Conference Second-Team honors, as are Honorable Mention picksย Ben Larsenย (25 goals) and Marcell Szécsi (23 goals).
ย
A CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM
The UCLA Bruins captured their 12th NCAA Championship in men's water polo with a 7-6 win at USCย on Mar. 21, 2021, at USC's Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The win also marked the 119th NCAA Championship for the UCLA Athletic Department. It was a balanced scoring effort by the Bruins, who received goals from six different players. Juniorย Jake Cavano, who was named to the 2020 First-Team All-NCAA Tournament,ย scored two goals, including the eventual difference maker with 6:23 left in the game. Sophomore goalkeeperย Bernardo Maurizi, who also was named First-Team All-NCAA Tournament, held the Trojans scoreless throughout the first half and racked up nine saves. UCLA never trailed in the game, though USC briefly pulled even at 4-4. Nicolas Saveljic was named the NCAA Tournament MVP.
THE WRIGHT STUFF
After guiding the Bruins to the NCAA Championship in 2020 and being named the ACWPC National Coach of the Year, Adam Wright returns for his 16th season as UCLA's head men's water polo coach in 2024 with an overall record of 367-68 (.844) and an MPSF mark of 72-25 (.742). His teams earned perfect APR (Academic Progress Rate) scores of 1,000 in 2014, 2015 and 2016 while winning the school's 112th, 113th and 114th NCAA Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Wright added the fourth NCAA Championship to his resume as a head coach in 2020 (Mar. 21, 2021) and a fourth perfect APR score in 2021 and a fifth in 2024. On July 20, 2017, then-UCLA Director of Athletics, Dan Guerrero, announced that Wright will guide both the UCLA men's and women's water polo teams. Wright was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on June 20, 2019, and to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020. On March 22, 2022, UCLA Director of Athletics, Martin Jarmond, announced that Wright had signed a new six-year contract, starting in July of 2022, as the Head Coach for both of the Bruins' Men's and Women's Water Polo programs.ย
ย
RECAPPING 2023
Overall Record: 26-3 |ย Final Ranking: 2nd | NCAA Finish: 2nd |ย MPSFย Tournament Finish: 4th
The UCLA Bruins made their 38th appearance in the NCAA Championship in 2023, finishing with a nation's best 26-3ย (.897) record. The Bruinsย fell one win short of the NCAA Championship, falling to California, 13-11, in the finals. UCLAย opened the season with 24 consecutive victories, tying for the third-best mark in school history (1968-70). Wright guided theย 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 in 2023, including four on the first team. Wright was named MPSF Coach of the Year for the third time in his career (2011, 2017, 2023).
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Players Mentioned
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