Wednesday, September 3
New York, N.Y.
3:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
vs
Pro Recco
After the Bruins face Pro Recco in an exhibition game in New York City (Sept. 3), they will head to Princeton, N.J. for four games (Sept. 5-6).
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
No. 1 UCLA to Face Pro Recco, Compete in Princeton Invitational
September 03, 2025 | Men's Water Polo
LOS ANGELES โ No. 1 UCLA (3-0, 0-0 MPSFย WEST) heads to the East Coast for a huge exhibition game and to compete in the Princeton Invitational. The Bruins will open with an exhibition game against the top professional team in the world, Pro Recco, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 3:00 p.m. PT at Asphalt Green's Upper East Side Campus in New York, N.Y. Then the Bruins will head to Princeton, N.J., to play four games, beginning with No. 14 California Baptist University (3-1) on Friday, Sept. 5 at 10:00 a.m. PT and DeNunzio Pool. The Bruins will close out day one with No. 19 George Washington (2-4) at 1:00 p.m. PT. UCLA will take on No. 4 Fordham (4-0), an NCAA semifinalist from a year ago, at 8:00 a.m. PT on Saturday, Sept. 6 and then close out the tournament with (RV) Bucknellย (1-3) at 11:00 a.m. PT.ย None of this week'sย games at the Princeton Invitational will have a live stream or live stats, but you can follow along with live scoring updates on the Bruins' official account on Twitter(X). The exhibition game with Pro Recco will have a live stream available on subscription on Overnght.com (link below).
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Wednesday, Sept. 3 (Asphalt Green's Upper East Side Campusย - New York, N.Y.)
3:00 PMย PT โ No. 1 UCLA vs. Pro Recco (Exhibition)ย |ย LIVE STREAM
Friday, Sept. 5 (Princeton Invitational - DeNunzio Pool - Princeton, N.J.)
10:00 AMย PT โ No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 14 California Baptist University
1:00 PMย PT โ No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 19 George Washington
Saturday, Sept. 5 (Princeton Invitational - DeNunzio Pool - Princeton, N.J.)
8:00 AMย PT โ No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 4 Fordhamย |ย AUDIO STREAM
11:00 AMย PT โ No. 1 UCLA vs. (RV) Bucknell
SERIES HISTORY
UCLA is 14-0 all-time against California Baptist University. The Bruins won the lastย meeting against the Lancers, 19-8, in last year's home opener onย Sept. 14, 2024.
UCLA is 3-0 all-time against George Washington. The Bruins won the lastย meeting against the Revolutionaries, 18-6, in the first round of the NCAA Championship on Nov. 29, 2018.
UCLA is 3-0 all-time against Fordham. The Bruins won the last meeting against the Rams, 22-0, at the Princeton Invitational on Sept. 8, 2012.
UCLA is 8-0ย all-time against Bucknell. The Bruins won the last meeting against the Bison, 18-8, at the Princeton Invitational on Sept. 9, 2017.
RECAPPING LAST WEEK
No. 1 UCLA (3-0) opened the season with three double-digit wins over ranked teams in the San Diego area. The Bruins opened the 2025 season with a 20-8ย win over No. 20 Navy (Aug. 29) at Brian Bent Memorial Aquatics Complex in Coronado, Calif. Then head to La Jolla, Calif. to take part in the Triton Invitational. UCLA began the tournament with a 16-6 win over No. 14 UC Davis (Aug. 30) and then defeated the hosts, No. 12 UC San Diego (Aug. 30), 18-2.
- Navy Game Notes (Aug. 29):ย UCLA had a total of 13 players score in the contest, paced by a career-high four goals from sophomoreย Bode Brinkema. He also added an assist to finish with a career- and game-high five total points.ย Redshirt sophomoreย Nate Tauscherย made just his fourth start of his career, playing the first half and holding the Midshipmen to two goals. Redshirt freshmanย Joey Kentย came on in relief, making his first appearance in a Bruin uniform and allowed six goals in the second half. Statistics are still not available.
- UC Davis Game Notes (Aug. 30): In the win over the Aggies, sophomoreย Ryder Doddย led all scorers with five goals. It was his first game of the year after he missed the Navy game due to illness. Redshirt seniorย Chase Doddย scored four points against UC Davis (two goals, two assists). Sophomoreย Bode Brinkemaย also scored a pair of goals against the Aggies and added an assist for a total of three points.ย Redshirt sophomoreย Nate Tauscherย got the starting nod and tallied eight saves while allowing five goals in three quarters and 2:55 in the fourth. Redshirt freshmanย Joey Kentย came on in relief and played the final 5:05 of the fourth quarter, tallying one save while surrendering one score.
- UC San Diego Game Notes (Aug. 30):ย In the game against the Tritons,ย Chase Doddย and juniorย Ben Liechtyย each scored their first hat tricks of the year. Chase Dodd added an assist for a four-way tie in the scoring department with four points. Brinkema (one goal, three assists),ย Ryder Doddย (two goals, two assists), and redshirt juniorย Vinnie Merkย (one goal, three assists) all finished with four total points.ย Tauscher made his third-consecutive start on the year, registering eight saves and three steals while giving up two goals in the first three periods. Kent came on in relief and played the entire fourth quarter, racking up three saves (including a blocked penalty shot) to pitch a shut out in his eight minutes of action.ย Additionally, it marked the third-largest margin of victory in series history against UC San Diego and the most since a 24-1 win in 1976.ย
OFF TO A BALANCED START
In addition to winning its first three games by double digits, UCLA has reached double-digit scorers in all three games this season, sporting 13 different players to score in the win over Navy, 10 in the win against UC Davis, and 11 in the victory at UC San Diego.
LEADING FROM THE JUMP
So far in its first three games, the Bruins have not trailed for a single second. UCLA was tied 1-1 vs. Navy and then engineered an 8-0 run to lead 9-1 with under two minutes left in the second quarter. Tied 1-1 against UC Davis, the Bruins went on an 8-2 run to lead 9-3 at halftime. After being tied 1-1 against UC San Diego, UCLA reeled off 12 straight goals to build a 13-1 lead with 2:00 remaining in the third quarter.
UCLA PICKED TO WIN THEย MPSF
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 Yearย Ryder Dodd, who broke both the conference and UCLA freshman single-season scoring record in 2024 with 102 goals. Also back for UCLA are All-Americansย Chase Doddย (26 goals),ย Peter Castilloย (31 goals, 64 earned exclusions), andย Frederico Jucá Carsaladeย (25 goals, 38 assists).
ย
| 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 |
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
For the second straight year, the Bruins return four of the five All-Americans from the prior season. Sophomore attacker Ryder Dodd is back from his record-shattering season where he set the MPSF and UCLA freshman single-season scoring record with 102 goals. He was a First-Team All-American, as was his brother, redshirt senior attacker Chase Dodd (26 goals, 33 assists). Sophomore utility Peter Castillo was a Third-Team All-American a year ago (31 goals, 64 earned exclusions). The other All-American the Bruins return in 2025 is Honorable Mention selection and redshirt junior attacker, Frederico Jucá Carsalade (25 goals, 38 assists). Junior utilityย Ben Liechty, the 2024 MPSF Newcomer of the Year, also qualifies as the Bruins' fifth returning All-American as he was an Honorable Mention selection in 2023. UCLA lost the playing services of All-American, Nico Tierney (Honorable Mention, 41 goals), but added him to the Bruins' staff as an assistant coach for the 2025 season.
RETURNING ALL-MPSF PLAYERS
Last year, UCLA had a league-best and school-record-tying nine players earn 2024 Delfina All-MPSF West accolades, but only five of them return, highlighted by MPSF Player and Newcomer of the Year,ย Ryder Dodd. He also won the Peter J. Cutino Award and was named the ACWPC National Player of the Year in 2025. All five All-League performers returning were also listed in the returning All-American note above. In addition to losing Nico Tierney (Honorable Mention All-MPSF) from a year ago, the Bruins also lost the services of First-Team attacker Makoto Kenney (15 goals, 45 assists),ย Honorable Mention goalkeeperย Garret Griggsย (25 starts, 23-2 record, 173 saves, 9.12 goals against average), and Honorable Mention center-defender Aaron Voggenthaler (24 goals). The Bruins return a sixth All-MPSF contributor in junior center Marcellย Szécsi (Honorable Mention pick in 2023, 13 goals in 2024).
SUPER SENIORS
The Bruins return five seniors in 2025 that all made huge contributions a year ago. Joining redshirt senior Chase Doddย is fellow redshirt seniors attacker Trey Doten (11 goals), and center Eli Liechty (24 goals, 48 earned exclusions). UCLA also regains the services of senior utility Gray Carson (14 goals) and attacker Noah Rowe (six goals, 21 assists). Together this class has an overall record of 94-14 (.870), which includes going a combined 52-5 (.912) over the last two seasons.
MORE NOTABLE RETURNEES
Flexing its superb depth, there are six more Bruins seeking to have increased roles this season, starting with redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Nate Tauscher. Tauscher was the back-up goalie last year but came up big when his number was called. He only made three starts on the year (3-0), but two of them came at the NCAA Tournament (semifinals and finals). This group also includes junior attacker Wade Sherlock (21 goals, 35 assists), redshirt junior utility Ben Larsen (19 goals), redshirt junior attacker Vinnie Merk (three goals), redshirt sophomore defender Max Matthews (six goals, also scored the game-winning goal at the buzzer for the Gold team in a 15-14 win over the Blue squad in the 2025 preseason), and sophomore utility Bode Brinkema (16 goals, 23 assists, 22 steals).
REDSHIRTS AND FRESH FACES
Looking to make a big splash this season are five redshirt freshmen and five true freshmen that have arrived in Westwood for the 2025 campaign. The redshirt freshmen includeย attackerย Alex Heenanย (Harvard-Westlake School), goalkeeperย Joey Kentย (JSerra Catholic HS), attackerย Andrew Spencerย (Sacred Heart Prep), goalkeeperย Nick Tovaniย (San Ramon Valley HS), and center defenderย Harry Tuckerย (Perth, Australia). The five freshmen looking to make an immediate impact include goalkeeper Harper Gardner (Rio Americano HS), Jackson Harlan (Corona del Mar HS), Zac Miller (Westlake HS), Hayden O'Hare (Campolindo HS), and Santino Rossi (Newport Harbor HS).
A CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM
The UCLA Bruins captured their 13th NCAA Championship in men's water polo with an 11-8 win over USCย on Dec. 8, 2024, at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center. The win also marked the fifth NCAA Championship for UCLA Head Coachย Adam Wrightย while in charge of the Men's Water Polo team, with all five titles coming against USC. It is Wright's ninth NCAA title overall, as he also won two as a player at UCLA (1999 and 2000), one as the head coach of the women's program (2024), and one more as an assistant coach with the women's team in 2009.ย UCLA had a total of seven players score in the contest, paced by two goals each from freshmanย Ryder Dodd, redshirt juniorย Chase Dodd, and graduate studentsย Nico Tierneyย andย Jack Larsen. Graduate studentย Makoto Kenneyย added a game-high three assists.ย Redshirt freshmanย Nate Tauscherย made just his third start of his young career, going the distance while recordingย 10 saves, three steals, and one assist while surrendering eight scores.
ALL THE WRIGHT STUFF
After guiding the Bruins to the NCAA Championship in 2024 and being named the MPSF Coach of the Year for the fourth time, Adam Wright returns for his 17th season as UCLA's head men's water polo coach in 2025 with an overall record of 373-68 (.846) 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 the men's head coach in 2020 (Mar. 21, 2021) and a fourth perfect APR score in 2021. On July 20, 2017, then-UCLA Director of Athletics, Dan Guerrero, announced that Wrightย would 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 2024
Overall Record: 26-2 |ย Final Ranking: 1st | NCAA Finish: 1st |ย MPSFย Tournament Finish: 2nd
The UCLA Bruins made their 39th appearance in the NCAA Championship in 2024, winning the program's 13th NCAA title with a nation's best 26-2ย (.929) record. The Bruinsย also posted the best record in MPSF play with a 5-1 mark. The Bruins opened the NCAA Championship with a 22-6 win over No. 20 Salem in the First Round and then posted a 17-14 win at No. 4 Stanford in the NCAA Semifinals. Top-seeded UCLA then defeated No. 2 USC, 11-8, in the title match. UCLA placed an MPSF-high nine players on the All-MPSF teams in 2024, including Ryder Dodd becoming the first player in league history to be named the Player and Newcomer of the Year in the same season. Additionally, Adam Wright was named MPSF Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career (2011, 2017, 2023, 2024).
Other Notes:
- UCLA represented as Team USA at the 2025 FISU World University Games and captured a silver medal. Ryder Dodd, Bode Brinkema, Ben Liechty, and Peter Castillo were on the U20 World Championship roster for Team USA that won a silver medal at the World Aquatics U20 World Championships, the highest finish ever for a USA Men's National Team in World Championship play at any age group with Dodd being named the Best Player.
- USAWP National League Champion
- Undefeated 13-0 season against a dozen teams consisting of multiple Olympic-level athletes.
- Pacific Cup Champion
- Undefeated in three games with eight-goal average margin of victory.
- Five Players in U20 World Championship
- Bode Brinkema, Peter Castillo, Ben Liechty and Ryder Dodd combined for over 50% of Team USA's goals (53/104) in its highest finish ever earning silver. Ryder Dodd was named tournament MVP.
- Harry Tucker finished fourth in scoring with 10 goals forย Australia.
- World University Games
- UCLA (minus Ryder Dodd, Chasee Dodd, Ben Liechty, Harry Tucker, and Frederico Jucá Carsalade),ย represented as Team USA and earned a silver medal (tied for its highest finish since 1985).
- Three Active Players on World Aquatics Championship Roster
- Ben Liechty, Chase Dodd and Ryder Dodd made up 20% of the Team USA roster that finished eighth.
UCLA opens the 2025 campaign atย No.ย 1ย in this preseason CWPAย National Men's Varsity Top 20 Poll (100 points), released on Aug. 20.
| 2025 Men's Varsity Top 20 (Preseason) | |||
| Rank | ย Team | Final 2024 Poll | Points |
| ย 1 | ย UCLA | ย 1 | ย 100 |
| ย 2 | ย USC | ย 2 | ย 95 |
| ย 3 (T) | ย California | ย 6 (T) | ย 85 |
| ย 3 (T) | ย Fordhamย | ย 3 (T) | ย 85 |
| ย 3 (T) | ย Stanfordย | ย 3 (T) | ย 85 |
| ย 6 | ย Long Beach Stateย | ย 6 (T) | ย 75 |
| ย 7 (T) | ย Pepperdineย | ย 13 | ย 61 |
| ย 7 (T) | ย UC Irvine | ย 10 (T) | ย 61 |
| ย 9 | ย Pacific | ย 6 (T) | ย 57 |
| ย 10 (T) | ย Princeton | ย 5 | ย 56 |
| ย 10 (T) | ย San Jose State | ย 10 (T) | ย 56 |
| ย 12 | ย UC San Diego | ย 12 | ย 45 |
| ย 13 | ย California Baptist University | ย 9 | ย 39 |
| ย 14 | ย UC Davis | ย 14 | ย 38 |
| ย 15 | ย UC Santa Barbara | ย 15 | ย 32 |
| ย 16 | ย LMU | ย 19 (T) | ย 25 |
| ย 17 | ย Brown | ย 16 | ย 17 |
| ย 18 (T) | ย Santa Clara | ย 17 (T) | ย 16 |
| ย 18 (T) | ย Harvard | ย 17 (T) | ย 16 |
| ย 20 | ย Navy | ย 19 (T) | ย 10 |
| ย RV | ย Air Force | ย NR | ย 2 |
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Water PoloUCLA Men's Water Polo Ring Reveal
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Sunday, December 08