
No. 1 UCLA Defends Crown, Beats No. 3 USC, 12-9
September 22, 2024 | Men's Water Polo
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Top-ranked UCLA (10-0) extended its consecutive regular season win streak to 35 games on Sunday, capturing the 2024 Overnght/MPSF Invitational championship for the second straight year with a 12-9 win over No. 3 USC (10-1) at Spieker Aquatics Complex. UCLA improved to 98-91-1 all-time against the Trojans.
The Bruins had a total of eight players score in the contest, paced by seven points from graduate student Makoto Kenney (two goals and five assists). Displaying incredible balance all weekend long, UCLA also had three other players score multiple goals in the win over USC, which included two each from redshirt sophomores Ben Larsen and Frederico Jucá Carsalade as well as graduate transfer Nico Tierney.
Graduate student Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and went the distance, holding USC to a season-low nine goals with eight saves and three steals.
The Bruins scored first when Chase Dodd found the back of the net on a power play off a feed from sophomore Wade Sherlock (4:39). After the Trojans tied it up (4:16), sophomore Marcell Szécsi drew a penalty and Carsalade converted it (1:34) to end the scoring in the first with the Bruins leading 2-1.
UCLA struck first in the second quarter as well, extending its lead to 3-1 when graduate student Aaron Voggenthaler scored from the front court off a feed from sophomore Ben Liechty (6:44). After a rebound goal by the Trojans (6:09), Tierney scored a power play goal off an assist from Kenney (5:48) to make it 4-2. Then Tierney scored back-to-back from the front court (5:07) to extend the lead to 5-2. Then Kenney scored his first of the game, beating the shot clock buzzer (4:21) and Carsalade followed with his second a minute late (3:21) and the Bruins were in total control at 7-2. The Trojans scored the final two goals of the second period to make it 7-4 Bruins at the break.
The Bruins again scored first in the third period when freshman Peter Castillo caught a pass from freshman Ryder Dodd on his back and then scored a power play goal while underwater (5:42) to push the lead to 8-4. Then Ben Larsen took a sweet feed from junior Noah Rowe and scored off a strong sweep (0:43) to make it 9-4. USC scored the final goal of the period to cut UCLA's lead to 9-5 heading into the final stanza.
USC struck first in the fourth on a goal from the front court (6:57) to trim the Bruins' lead to 9-6. But Ryder Dodd extended his scoring streak to 10 games with a powerful shot off an assist from Kenney (5:38) to extend the lead to 10-6. USC tried to mount a comeback, scoring two straight to close the gap to 10-8, but Kenney again had a dagger from the front court as the shot clock buzzer was sounding (3:09) to put the Bruins up comfortably, 11-8. Kenney then set up Ben Larsen for his second score (1:10) to put the game out of reach, 12-8. The Trojans tacked on a ninth goal on a 7-on-6 (0:49) to end the scoring at 12-9.
UP NEXT: The Bruins return home to begin a five-game home stand, starting with No. 13 UC Santa Barbara on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center.
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 3 USC (2024 Overnght/MPSF Invitational - Finals - Berkeley, Calif. - Game 10)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 3 USC | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
6x5 - UCLA - 4/13 - USC - 2/9
Penalties - UCLA - 1/2 - USC - 0/0
USC Goals: Max Miller 3, Jack Martin 2, Stefan Brankovic 1, Robert Lopez Duart 1, Jack Vort 1, Luka Brnetic 1
USC Saves: Bernardo Herzer 11
UCLA Goals: Frederico Jucá Carsalade 2, Ben Larsen 2, Makoto Kenney 2, Nico Tierney 2, Aaron Voggenthaler 1, Peter Castillo 1, Chase Dodd 1, Ryder Dodd 1
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 8
Team Stats
Chase Dodd
04:39
Max Miller
04:16
Frederico Jucá Carsalade
01:34
Aaron Voggenthaler
06:44
Jack Martin
06:09
Nico Tierney
05:48
Nico Tierney
05:07
Makoto Kenney
04:21
Frederico Jucá Carsalade
03:21
Jack Martin
02:44
Stefan Brankovic
00:25
Peter Castillo
05:42
Ben Larsen
00:43
Max Miller
00:22
Luka Brnetic
06:57
Ryder Dodd
05:38
Jack Vort
05:11
Max Miller
04:02
Makoto Kenney
03:09
Ben Larsen
01:10
Robert Lopez Duart
00:49



















