UCLA
24-2
Salem
20-4
No. 1 UCLA Advances to NCAA Semifinals, Beats Salem, 22-6
December 06, 2024 | Men's Water Polo
STANFORD, Calif. --ย No. 1 UCLA (24-2)ย advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship with a 22-6 win over No. 20 Salem (20-4) in the opening round at Avery Aquatic Center on Friday afternoon. This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
UCLA, which scored the first seven goals of the game, had 10 players score in the contest, paced by a season-high four goals from graduate Jack Larsen and four goals from freshman Ryder Dodd. Freshman Peter Castillo and redshirt junior Eli Liechty both scored their third hat tricks of the season against the Tigers. Redshirt junior Chase Dodd and graduate transfer Nico Tierney each scored twice in the contest.
Graduate student Garret Griggsย got the start in the cage and played the first quarter, pitching a shutout while recording three blocks and one steal. Redshirt freshman Nate Tauscher came on in relief and played the final three quarters, registering 10 saves while surrendering six scores.
The Bruins led 5-0 at the end of the first period and 9-2 at halftime.
UCLA won the third period, 7-3, to take a 16-5 advantage into the final stanza. The Bruins won the fourth quarter, 6-1, to provide the 22-6 final.
UP NEXT: The top-seeded Bruins will now face the fourth-seeded tournament hosts, Stanford, in tomorrow's first semifinal at 2:00 p.m. PST. Stanford advanced with a 15-8 win over No. 5 Princeton.
No. 20 Salem vs. No. 1 UCLA (2024 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship - Opening Round - Stanford, Calif. - Game 26)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 20 Salem | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
6x5 -ย UCLA - 6/18ย - SU - 2/8
Penalties -ย UCLA - 4/4ย - SU - 3/3
SU Goals:ย Danko Kesic 2, Marko Zivojinovic 2, Ivan Zivojinovic 1, Antonio Sablic 1
SU Saves:ย Goncalo Silva 5
UCLA Goals:ย Jack Larsen 4, Ryder Dodd 4, Eli Liechty 3, Peter Castillo 3, Chase Dodd 2, Nico Tierney 2,ย Marcell Szécsi 1, Wade Sherlock 1, Ben Larsen 1, Gray Carson 1
UCLA Saves:ย Nate Tauscher 10, Garret Griggs 3
ย
Team Stats
Peter Castillo
07:39
Peter Castillo
07:12
Peter Castillo
06:05
Jack Larsen
04:53
Jack Larsen
00:01
Nico Tierney
06:43
Chase Dodd
06:15
Ivan Zivojinovic
04:52
Marcell Szรยฉcsi
04:22
Nico Tierney
03:33
Marko Zivojinovic
01:16
Jack Larsen
07:40
Jack Larsen
06:55
Danko Kesic
06:28
Eli Liechty
05:45
Ryder Dodd
05:07
Danko Kesic
04:06
Eli Liechty
03:54
Ryder Dodd
01:40
Marko Zivojinovic
01:18
Chase Dodd
00:22
Ryder Dodd
06:55
Ben Larsen
04:27
Ryder Dodd
03:18
Gray Carson
02:34
Wade Sherlock
01:42
Antonio Sablic
01:27
Eli Liechty
01:06
