Bruins Picked to Finish First in MPSF
August 19, 2025 | Men's Water Polo
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LOS ANGELESย โ Defending NCAA Champion UCLA collected 99 points and nine first-place votes in topping the 2025 MPSF Men's Water Polo Western Division preseason coaches' poll. The Bruins return 21 players from last year, including ACWPC National Player of the Year and MPSF Player and Newcomer of the Year Ryder Dodd, who broke both the school and conference single-season scoring record in 2024 with 102 goals. Also back for UCLA are All-Americans Chase Dodd (26 goals),ย Peter Castillo (31 goals, 64 earned exclusions), and Frederico Jucá Carsalade (25 goals, 38 assists).
Three-time defending MPSF West Champion USC totaled 91 points and the remaining two first-place votes for second-place. USC returns first team All-Americans and first team All-NCAA Tournament selections Robert López Duart (64 goals) and goalkeeper Bernardo Herzer, as well as an additional All-American in Stefan Brankovic from a national runner-up season. The Trojans also added 2024 first team All-American and WCC Player of the Year Mihailo Vukazic (63 goals at Pacific) to their roster.
Stanford (82) placed third in the west division, followed by California (74). The Cardinal returns All-American goalkeeper West Temkin as well as All-MPSF Center Will Schneider. The Golden Bears bring back All-Americans Albert Ponferrada and Bende Pardi.
Augustana compiled 62 points in the poll as favorites in the MPSF's Eastern Division. The Vikings have won the east in each of their first three years in the conference. Goalkeeper Declan Hutton along with Oskar Bannister return as three-time All-Americans, as do 2024 MPSF Player of the Year and All-American Stevan Rasic in addition to three-time all-conference Mark Addison.
Austin College was picked second in the east with 50 points, featuring All-American and team leading scorer Aidan Wade amongย a young core. MPSF newcomer Johns Hopkins placed third (46), followed by 2024 MPSF East finalist Penn State Behrend (36). Back for the Blue Jays are 2024 All-Americans Andrew Lee (team-highs 67 goals, 93 DEX) and Phillip Long (team-highs 94 points, 19 FB). The Lions return All-American and MPSF Newcomer of the Year Nick Thompson, as well as MPSF assist leader Atticus Bowman.
Connecticut College was picked fifth (26) in its inaugural MPSF season, followed by Washington & Jefferson narrowly behind (25) and Wheaton College rounding out the east (14). Two-time All-American Jesse Ellis returns for the Camels, while All-MPSF Aidan Miller as well as goalkeeper Timothy Deutsch are back for the Presidents. The Lyons are highlighted by Spyros Rapsomanikis, an All-American and All-MPSF first team honoree in the squad's first varsity season last year (48 goals, 70 points, MPSF-high 80 steals).
The MPSF's 34th men's water polo season gets underway August 29 at 5:00 p.m. PT when the Bruins travel to Coronado, Calif., to face Navy at Brian Bent Memorial Aquatics Complex. Stanford hosts the MPSF Championship Tournament, November 21-23, which will produce both a western and eastern division champion. Stanford is also the host of the NCAA Tournament two weeks later. Since its initial season in 1992, the MPSF has won all 33 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championships.
2025ย MPSFย Coaches' Preseason Poll
MPSF WEST
| Team | Points (1st Place) | 2024 Record | 2024 MPSFย Finish | 2024ย NCAA D1 Finish |
| UCLA | 99 (9) | 26-2 | 2nd | 1st |
| USC | 90 (2) | 23-6 | 1st | 2nd |
| Stanford | 82 | 22-5 | 3rd | T-3rd |
| California | 74 | 12-13 | 4th | n/a |
MPSF EAST
| Team | Points | 2024 Record | 2024 MPSFย Finish | 2024ย NCAA D3 Finish |
| Augustana | 62 | 16-7 | 1st East/Champion | 3rd |
| Austin College | 50 | 12-9 | 2nd East | n/a |
| Johns Hopkins | 46 | 12-23 | n/a | n/a |
| Penn State Behrend | 36 | 8-18 | 3rd East/MPSF Final | n/a |
| Connecticut College | 26 | 7-14 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington & Jefferson | 25 | 5-15 | 4th East | n/a |
| Wheaton College | 14 | 0-19 | 5th East | n/a |
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