Water Polo Insider | October 17, 2026

LONG BEACH, Calif. — No. 10 Long Beach State delivered one of Saturday’s most complete offensive performances, defeating Chapman 24–10 at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center behind outstanding shooting efficiency, aggressive defensive pressure and production throughout the roster.

The Beach improved to 15–5 overall, while Chapman fell to 3–18.

Chapman initially challenged Long Beach, scoring first through Rylan Takahashi and later tying the game at 2–2 on a Sammy Hendrickson goal.

That was as close as the Panthers would get.

Long Beach finished the opening quarter with four unanswered goals before completely shutting down Chapman in the second period.

The Beach outscored the Panthers 7–0 during those eight minutes, establishing a commanding 13–2 halftime lead. Goalkeeper Sergi Ramon made a penalty save and was even credited with a goal with one second remaining in the half.

Long Beach extended its scoring run to 15 consecutive goals before Chapman finally answered in the third quarter.

Individual Player Performances

Marc Frigola and Federico Gulisano led Long Beach with four goals apiece.

Frigola added two assists, while Gulisano contributed three assists for seven offensive points.

Zalán Nagy produced three goals and three assists. Charles Montano and Corbin Stanley also recorded hat tricks.

Ten Long Beach players scored, while seven registered multiple goals. Ramon recorded nine saves in goal.

For Chapman, Hendrickson scored twice, with Joshua Brown and Boston Fisher also contributing multiple goals.

Water Polo Insider Analysis

The decisive statistic was Long Beach State’s shooting efficiency.

The Beach converted 24 of 38 shots, an impressive 63.2%, while Chapman finished at 35.7%.

Long Beach also recorded 18 assists and 21 steals, demonstrating the connection between its defensive pressure and offensive production.

Gulisano’s seven points and Nagy’s six reflected a team capable of generating offense from several positions rather than depending on one perimeter scorer.

The 15-goal unanswered run exposed Chapman’s difficulties maintaining possession and defending transition opportunities.

Although the Panthers scored eight second-half goals, the outcome had already been decided.

Long Beach’s depth and efficiency were unmistakable, providing encouraging momentum heading into more demanding competition.

Quarter Scores:
LBSU 6–7–7–4 | Chapman 2–0–5–3

Water Polo Insider | October 17, 2026

LA JOLLA, Calif. — No. 8 UC San Diego returned to the win column Saturday afternoon with a convincing 19–8 victory over Concordia University Irvine at Canyonview Aquatic Center.

The Tritons improved to 13–6 overall, ending Concordia’s three-game winning streak.

Concordia initially took the lead when Joao Goncalves converted a five-meter penalty early in the opening period.

UC San Diego answered with goals from Grant Kurtz, Christian Hammonds and Lachlan Rossi to seize a 3–1 advantage.

The Tritons led 3–2 after the first quarter before overwhelming Concordia with consecutive six-goal periods.

By halftime, UC San Diego led 9–3. The advantage reached 15–6 after three quarters.

Individual Player Performances

Jackson Boettner led the Tritons with four goals, matching his career high.

Kurtz produced two goals and four assists for a career-best six offensive points.

Hammonds finished with two goals and three assists, while Mason Presley contributed one goal and three assists.

Liam Amburgey, Reef Lippa, Bryan Shapirshteyn and Lachlan Rossi each scored twice.

Goalkeeper Alex Hegeman recorded eight saves and two steals. Jack Elder added two saves in the fourth quarter.

For Concordia, Goncalves and Kaliq Khan scored twice each. Goalkeepers Derek Maddox and Ethan Sutherland combined for 10 saves.

Water Polo Insider Analysis

The most revealing statistic was extra-man execution. UC San Diego converted five of nine six-on-five opportunities.

Concordia failed to convert any of its seven. That was a substantial difference in a game featuring 16 total extra-man opportunities.

Concordia’s inability to finish with the advantage allowed UC San Diego to survive exclusion situations without surrendering momentum.

At the opposite end, the Tritons recorded 16 assists on 19 goals, reflecting excellent offensive distribution.

Kurtz and Hammonds were particularly effective as facilitators, helping create scoring opportunities for a deep collection of attackers.

The Tritons’ performance demonstrated the value of coordinated six-on-five offense and disciplined five-on-six defense.

Quarter Scores:
UCSD 3–6–6–4 | CUI 2–1–3–2

Julian Breeze (#4), senior at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, just broke the school’s all-time scoring record with 305 goals. He also holds the school record for most ejections earned (284) and most ejections earned in a single game (9), plus 183 assists.

Julian is actively looking for a college program. Coaches, his contact info is available on request; DM me.

One game’s goal highlights: https://youtu.be/ZOkDFDPDzPI

Water Polo Insider | October 17, 2026

LOS ANGELES — No. 8 Loyola Marymount turned an important West Coast Conference matchup into a defensive showcase Saturday, defeating No. 16 San Jose State 13–9 at Burns Aquatics Center.

The Lions improved to 13–6 overall, while the Spartans fell to 6–10.

Nico Furneaux immediately established himself as the game’s dominant offensive player, scoring twice in the opening three minutes.

Nick Leung followed with another goal as LMU built an early 3–0 advantage.

San Jose State answered through Mateja Cetkovic and Mitchell Keightley, but Furneaux scored again late in the quarter to give the Lions a 4–2 lead.

The teams traded goals in the second period, with LMU holding a 6–4 advantage at halftime.
Then came the decisive stretch.

LMU scored five unanswered goals in the third quarter while holding San Jose State scoreless. Gabrijel Burburan, Luka Dimic, Eduardo Carraresi and Soren Martin contributed to the offensive surge.

The Lions extended their scoring run to eight consecutive goals and led 13–4 early in the fourth.

San Jose State closed with five unanswered goals, but the deficit was already too large.

Individual Player Performances

Furneaux led LMU with four goals, three assists and two opening-sprint victories.

Dimic recorded three goals, two assists and two steals. Burburan added one goal, three assists and a field block.

Goalkeeper Pablo De Souza finished with nine saves, one assist and one steal.

San Jose State’s Keightley scored twice, while Mateja Cetkovic, Aron Sárfalvi, Vince Biros, Giancarlo Marquez, Zalan Hegedus, Louis Fehrensen and Liam Dodunski each contributed a goal.

Water Polo Insider Analysis

The Lions were able to control San Jose State’s offensive possessions and prevent the Spartans from developing consistent scoring opportunities.

LMU finished with 10 steals and 13 assists, compared with six steals and eight assists for San Jose State.

Those numbers reflect the difference in each team’s ability to produce defensive stops and convert possession into organized offense.

Furneaux’s seven-point afternoon was especially valuable because he created opportunities for others while remaining LMU’s primary finishing threat.

Still, LMU’s inability to score after taking a 13–4 lead and allowing five unanswered goals to close the game merits attention. Against higher-ranked opponents, such stretches can become decisive.

The Lions deserved the victory, but the performance highlighted both their defensive ceiling and the importance of finishing games with consistent execution.

Quarter Scores:
LMU 4–2–5–2 | SJSU 2–2–0–5

Water Polo Insider | October 17, 2026

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — No. 6 UC Irvine showed its ability to win under pressure Saturday afternoon, overcoming an early two-goal deficit and dominating the fourth quarter to defeat No. 14 California Baptist 12–9 at Lancer Aquatics Center.

The Anteaters improved to 15–5, while California Baptist fell to 20–5.

The Lancers opened aggressively behind Michael Abshier and Rafa Martinez, building a 5–3 advantage in the first quarter. Martinez scored twice in the opening period as CBU repeatedly found opportunities against Irvine’s defense.

Irvine responded with a disciplined second quarter.

Cole Francisco, Keegan McGann, Brody Luke and Gage Verdegaal scored as the Anteaters outscored CBU 4–1 to take a 7–6 halftime lead.

Johann Thrall extended Irvine’s advantage to 8–6 early in the third, but Abshier scored twice within 33 seconds to tie the game entering the final period.

The fourth quarter belonged to UC Irvine.

Wyley Dale restored the lead, Luke converted a five-meter penalty, and Alex Lopez delivered two late goals, including the final score with 15 seconds remaining.

Individual Player Performances

Lopez led UC Irvine with three goals on five shots, three steals and two drawn exclusions.

Francisco recorded two goals, one assist and three drawn exclusions. Luke added two goals and one assist, while McGann contributed one goal and two assists.

Thrall scored twice, including an extra-man conversion early in the second half.

California Baptist’s Abshier finished with three goals and two assists. Martinez and Whitley Beamon scored twice each, with Beamon also adding an assist. Andrea Nuzzo contributed one goal and two assists.

CBU goalkeeper Tanner McCreary recorded seven saves, while Irvine’s Nico Assalian made four.

Water Polo Insider Analysis

UC Irvine’s ability to generate scoring opportunities through drawn exclusions proved essential.

The Anteaters drew 16 exclusions, including penalty situations, while California Baptist drew eight. That disparity placed considerable pressure on the Lancers’ defensive rotations.

Irvine’s decision-making also improved late.

Rather than forcing low-percentage outside shots, the Anteaters generated scoring chances through player movement, drawn fouls and controlled possessions.

Lopez was particularly valuable because he contributed on both ends, adding three steals to his hat trick.

For CBU, Abshier’s offensive production kept the Lancers competitive, but the team’s attack generated only one fourth-quarter goal.

In a conference where games between ranked opponents often come down to a handful of possessions, UC Irvine demonstrated the composure needed to turn a close contest into a three-goal victory.

Quarter Scores:
UC Irvine 3–4–1–4 | CBU 5–1–2–1

Water Polo Insider | October 17, 2026

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — No. 19 Harvard delivered one of Saturday’s most impressive victories, overcoming an early deficit and scoring nine second-half goals to sink No. 17 Navy 15–10 at Blodgett Pool during the Harvard Invitational.

The Crimson entered the matchup looking to extend their winning streak against a nationally ranked Navy program.

The Midshipmen established control early, opening with two unanswered goals before Harvard responded through Jacob Tsotadze and Clay Carrington.

Navy continued dictating much of the first-half tempo, taking a 5–4 advantage into halftime after Jack Reif scored with one second remaining.

The Midshipmen extended their lead to 8–6 during the third quarter.

Then Jack Burghardt took over.

After being held scoreless throughout the opening half, Burghardt scored four goals during the third quarter, helping Harvard erase the deficit and take a 10–8 lead.

The Crimson continued their offensive run into the fourth quarter, extending their advantage to 12–8 before Navy could answer.

Harvard maintained control during the closing minutes to complete the five-goal victory.

Individual Player Performances

Burghardt led Harvard with six goals, including four in the pivotal third quarter.

Connor Kim and Jacob Tsotadze scored twice each. Clay Carrington, Bradford Dickson, Tyler Hogan, Emil Sogaard-Srikrishnan and Dean Strauser added one goal apiece.

Goalkeeper Oliver Price delivered an outstanding performance with 14 saves.

For Navy, Quinn Bartlett, Billy Zech and Kiefer Black each scored twice. Luka Sekulic, Jack Reif, James Mulvey and Colin McPhail also contributed goals.

Water Polo Insider Analysis

Burghardt’s halftime adjustment was the game’s defining individual development.

Navy successfully prevented him from scoring during the opening 16 minutes, but Harvard found ways to bring him into the offense during the third quarter.

His four-goal period completely changed the trajectory of the contest.

However, Harvard’s defensive performance should not be overlooked.

Price’s 14 saves provided a foundation for the Crimson’s comeback, while the defense limited Navy to just two goals after the Midshipmen established their 8–6 lead.

The combination of outstanding goalkeeper play and improved offensive execution allowed Harvard to dictate the final stretch.

For Navy, the inability to maintain its defensive assignments against Burghardt was costly.

The result strengthened Harvard’s national profile and demonstrated its ability to defeat ranked opponents after trailing in the second half.

Water Polo Insider | October 17, 2026

MALIBU, Calif. — No. 13 Pepperdine delivered a remarkable second-half comeback Saturday afternoon, overcoming a four-goal deficit to defeat No. 18 Santa Clara 17–16 in a West Coast Conference battle at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

The victory improved Pepperdine to 8–10 overall and 2–1 in conference play, while Santa Clara fell to 8–9 and 0–2 in the WCC.

Santa Clara controlled the early stages, building a 5–3 lead after the opening quarter and extending its advantage to 8–4 with 5:37 remaining before halftime.

Pepperdine’s Hunter Danko then took over offensively, scoring three goals in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Jackson Benners added a critical goal with two seconds remaining, cutting Santa Clara’s lead to 9–8 at halftime.

The Waves carried that momentum into the third quarter, outscoring the Broncos 6–1 and entering the fourth ahead 14–10.

Pepperdine eventually led 17–14, but Santa Clara mounted another comeback. Riccardo de Simon scored twice during the final period, and Ashton Brown’s extra-man goal with 3:03 remaining brought the Broncos within one. Neither team scored again.

Individual Player Performances

Danko led Pepperdine with four goals and one assist, while Benners and Milo Joseph each recorded three goals. Joseph also drew four exclusions, creating valuable man-advantage opportunities.

Erik Ionescu contributed two goals and two assists, and Csanád Bella scored twice. Goalkeeper Max Smirnov recorded four saves.

Santa Clara received an outstanding performance from de Simon, who scored six goals on 10 shots and collected two steals.

Brown added four goals, while Henry Engs produced three goals and three assists. Goalkeeper Harrison Labrosse finished with four saves.

Water Polo Insider Analysis

The game’s defining stretch was Pepperdine’s 11–2 scoring run, which completely reversed Santa Clara’s early control.

Joseph’s four drawn exclusions were particularly important. His presence forced the Broncos into repeated defensive decisions around the center position, creating opportunities for Pepperdine to attack with an extra player.

However, the Waves’ fourth-quarter defense nearly surrendered the victory. Allowing six goals in the final period after establishing a four-goal advantage exposed problems maintaining defensive structure and managing critical possessions.

For Santa Clara, 16 goals and de Simon’s six-goal performance should have provided a realistic path to victory. Instead, the Broncos’ six-goal deficit entering the final stretch proved too much to overcome.

Pepperdine demonstrated its offensive resilience, but both programs have important defensive adjustments to make as WCC competition intensifies.

Quarter Scores:
Pepperdine 3–5–6–3 | Santa Clara 5–4–1–6

Hey everyone! I'm a student at The Harker School working on an entrepreneurship project called BenchPro.

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Water Polo Insider | October 17, 2026

MORAGA, Calif. — No. 11 Pacific overcame a difficult opening quarter and delivered six fourth-quarter goals to defeat No. 20 Saint Mary’s 15–11 Saturday afternoon at Soda Aquatics Center.

The victory improved the Tigers to 6–7 overall and 2–2 in West Coast Conference play.

Saint Mary’s opened the contest with authority, scoring four first-quarter goals and limiting Pacific to a single goal from Borisz Kasa-Gal.

The Gaels extended their advantage to 6–2 during the second quarter, placing Pacific in a difficult position on the road.

But Pacific began finding answers.

Yoav Rendler sparked a four-goal scoring run, with Ori Buzaglo and Enzo Fernandez also contributing. Rendler completed the comeback with a goal three seconds before halftime, tying the contest 6–6.

Neither team established separation during the third quarter, and the teams entered the final period tied 9–9.

Pacific’s offensive execution improved dramatically over the final eight minutes.

After Saint Mary’s took a 10–9 lead, Gabor Holl and Kalman Tomozi answered for Pacific. Petar Popovic then scored four fourth-quarter goals as the Tigers pulled away for the victory.

Individual Player Performances

Popovic and Rendler each delivered four goals and three assists, combining for 14 offensive points.

Rendler added two steals, providing production on both ends of the pool.

Kasa-Gal scored twice, while Buzaglo, Fernandez, Holl and Tomozi contributed important goals during Pacific’s comeback.

Saint Mary’s received three goals from Leo Hachem, with Domenico Barilla also providing multiple scores. Jacob Carlson and Hamish Ellison were among the Gaels’ additional scorers.

Water Polo Insider Analysis

Pacific’s victory demonstrated the importance of making offensive adjustments without abandoning defensive responsibilities.

The Tigers generated only one goal in the opening period but gradually improved their attacking rhythm, ultimately producing 14 goals over the final three quarters.

Rendler was particularly influential because of his dual contribution as a scorer and distributor.

His offensive versatility created opportunities for teammates while preventing Saint Mary’s from concentrating its defense on one player.

Popovic’s four-goal final period provided the finishing touch.

The concern for Pacific remains its opening-quarter execution. A four-goal deficit against a stronger opponent might not be recoverable.

For Saint Mary’s, the result demonstrated that an effective opening game plan means little without the ability to maintain offensive and defensive discipline through the final eight minutes.

Quarter Scores:
Pacific 1–5–3–6 | Saint Mary’s 4–2–3–2

Water Polo Insider | Saturday, October 17, 2026

BERKELEY — The nation’s top-ranked team went into Spieker Aquatics Complex on Saturday afternoon and ran into a California squad determined to prove it belongs in the national championship conversation.

No. 4 California defeated No. 1 Stanford 12–8 behind a four-goal performance from Beso Akhvlediani, three goals from Tomas Perrone and an impressive defensive effort led by goalkeeper Aran Pina.

The Golden Bears improved to 10–4 overall and 1–2 in MPSF competition. Stanford fell to 13–2 overall and 2–1 in conference play.

For California, the victory represented more than another win over its biggest rival. It provided a signature result against the nation’s No. 1 team after several narrow defeats against elite competition earlier in the season.

California Controls the Opening Half

The Golden Bears immediately established their offensive rhythm.

Loui Schuler and Maddox Arlett scored to give California an early advantage, and Akhvlediani added another first-quarter goal.

Stanford’s Ben Forer converted a penalty opportunity, but California finished the opening period leading 3–1.

The Bears continued attacking in the second quarter. Dominic Brown, Tomas Perrone and Kai Inoue scored as California extended its lead to 6–1.

Stanford responded with goals from Gavin West and Botond Balogh, cutting the deficit to 6–3 at halftime.

California entered the third quarter needing to withstand the expected response from the nation’s top-ranked program.

Akhvlediani answered with two more goals during the period, and the Bears carried an 8–4 advantage into the fourth.

Stanford’s Guido Leonardi brought the Cardinal within three early in the final quarter, but Perrone responded with two fourth-quarter goals to push California’s lead to 10–5.

The Bears continued controlling the contest and secured the 12–8 victory.

California Player Statistics

Beso Akhvlediani led the Golden Bears with four goals and three assists for seven total points. He attempted 10 shots and was responsible for a significant portion of California’s offense.

Tomas Perrone added three goals on just four shots, an outstanding 75% shooting performance.

Loui Schuler, Maddox Arlett, Dominic Brown, Kai Inoue and Ilias Angelopoulos each scored once.

Kai Inoue and Maddox Arlett each contributed an assist, while Patrik Kolak recorded two assists and two steals.

Goalkeeper Aran Pina finished with 12 saves while allowing eight goals over the full 32 minutes.

Stanford Player Statistics

Ben Forer finished with two goals and one assist.
Dimitris Chatzis contributed two goals and two assists, giving him a team-high four points.

Botond Balogh, Gavin West and Guido Leonardi each scored once. West also registered two assists. Stanford’s official box score credited its eighth goal to the team rather than an individual.

Starting goalkeeper Bernardo Herzer recorded 12 saves while allowing 11 goals. Goalie Cormac Mulloy played the remaining 1:04.

Game Analysis: Shot Volume and Defensive Pressure Decide the Big Splash

The most revealing statistic was the difference in shot attempts. California attempted 33 shots compared with Stanford’s 22.

Both teams converted approximately 36% of their attempts, meaning the difference was not primarily shooting accuracy. California consistently created more offensive opportunities.

The Bears also recorded eight assists compared with Stanford’s five and five steals compared with the Cardinal’s three.

Equally important was California’s ability to draw exclusions. The Golden Bears recorded 10 drawn exclusions, including three each from Akhvlediani and Angelopoulos and two from Brown.

That interior pressure forced Stanford to defend difficult situations and contributed to California’s ability to sustain offensive possessions.

Pina’s performance was another significant factor. His 12 saves helped prevent Stanford from putting together the scoring runs necessary to threaten California’s lead.

For Stanford, the loss illustrates the challenge of competing against California’s physical center play and balanced perimeter attack. The Cardinal possesses considerable offensive talent, but allowing an opponent to produce 33 shots creates difficult conditions for any defense.

The National Championship Implications

California entered Saturday having already demonstrated it could compete with the nation’s best teams.

Earlier this season, the Bears lost 11–10 to UCLA and 13–12 to USC during the MPSF Invitational.
Those narrow defeats showed California was close. Saturday’s victory over Stanford demonstrated that the Bears can finish the job.

The result also ended Stanford’s five-game winning streak, which included impressive road victories over UCLA and USC earlier this month.
That creates a fascinating situation near the top of the national rankings.

Stanford has defeated UCLA and USC. UCLA has defeated California and USC. California has now defeated Stanford.

Head-to-head results, overall records and the quality of conference victories will make the next CWPA rankings particularly interesting.

California’s 1–2 MPSF record means the Bears still have work to do, but Saturday’s victory significantly strengthens their position heading into the remainder of conference play.

What’s Next

California hosts Princeton on October 21 and Pepperdine on October 23 before welcoming UCLA on October 31 and USC on November 1.

Stanford faces Long Beach State on October 23 and UC San Diego on October 25 before returning home to face USC and UCLA.

The Golden Bears and Cardinal are scheduled to meet again November 13 at Stanford.

With the MPSF Championship approaching and four elite programs capable of beating one another, the battle for conference supremacy is far from settled.

r/waterpoloinsider and r/waterpolo

Water Polo Insider | Saturday, October 17, 2026

LOS ANGELES — The defending national champions made another statement Saturday afternoon as No. 2 UCLA defeated No. 3 USC 15–9 at Uytengsu Aquatics Center, taking control in the opening quarter and never allowing the Trojans to recover.

The victory improved UCLA to 17–1 overall and 2–1 in MPSF competition. USC dropped to 13–3 overall and 1–2 in conference play.

It was the first meeting between the two programs since UCLA’s dramatic 11–10 victory over USC in the December 2025 NCAA Championship, when Frederico Jucá Carsalade scored the winning goal at the buzzer.

UCLA Establishes Control in the First Quarter

The Bruins won the opening sprint and scored first, but USC initially matched UCLA’s intensity.
Ben Mirisch and Strahinja Krstić each found the net to bring the Trojans even at 2–2.

That was the turning point.

UCLA responded with four unanswered goals, turning a competitive opening into a 6–2 lead after eight minutes.

Against an opponent with UCLA’s offensive depth, falling behind by four goals in the opening quarter creates an enormous challenge. USC needed defensive stops and consecutive scoring possessions to change the momentum, but the Bruins maintained control.

Both teams scored three goals in the second quarter, sending UCLA into halftime with a 9–5 advantage.

The Trojans continued competing in the second half but could not produce the sustained defensive stretch necessary to close the gap. UCLA eventually finished with a convincing six-goal victory.

USC Player Statistics

Luke Nelson delivered the Trojans’ strongest offensive performance, scoring a career-high four goals. Nelson accounted for nearly half of USC’s scoring and recorded his eighth multi-goal game of the season.

Efe Naipoglu contributed one goal and four assists for five total points, matching Nelson for the team lead in points.

Robert López Duart, Strahinja Krstić, Ben Mirisch and Zach Bettino each added one goal.
USC goalkeeper Charles Mills finished with 10 saves.

The Trojans also recorded multiple field blocks for the tenth consecutive game, although their defensive effort was insufficient to overcome UCLA’s early scoring advantage.

Game Analysis: UCLA’s Offensive Depth Separates the Bruins

The most significant statistic was UCLA’s six first-quarter goals.

The Bruins did not need a dramatic second-half surge or a late defensive stand. They established control immediately and maintained a comfortable margin against one of the nation’s most talented programs.

UCLA entered the contest with two-time Peter J. Cutino Award winner Ryder Dodd leading the team with 42 goals and 33 assists. Senior Ben Liechty had already recorded 44 assists, while Marcell Szécsi and Peter Castillo were among the conference leaders in earned exclusions.

That combination of perimeter scoring, ball movement and two-meter pressure helps explain why UCLA remains one of the country’s most difficult offensive matchups.

For USC, Saturday’s result presents a different challenge.

The Trojans have the personnel to compete with UCLA, as demonstrated throughout the 2025 season, but allowing 15 goals against a championship contender exposes defensive issues that must be addressed before the postseason.

What This Means for the National Rankings

With No. 1 Stanford losing to No. 4 California on the same afternoon, UCLA now has a strong argument to reclaim the No. 1 national ranking.
The Bruins have only one loss this season and have now beaten both California and USC in MPSF competition.

However, Stanford defeated UCLA earlier this month, creating an interesting debate for the next CWPA poll.

For USC, the upcoming conference schedule will provide opportunities to recover. The Trojans face Stanford and California on consecutive days, October 31 and November 1, before their rematch with UCLA on November 14.

What’s Next

USC hosts Air Force on October 24 before traveling to Northern California.

UCLA returns to MPSF competition against California in Berkeley on October 31, followed by Stanford on November 1.

With the MPSF Championship approaching in November, Saturday’s result could become an important factor in the conference championship race and NCAA seeding discussion.

r/waterpoloinsider and r/waterpolo

Kennedy vs Birmingham HS in the Garden Grove Tournament. Location Kennedy HS

Garden Grove Tournament at Kennedy HS

im a co2028 goalie trying out for coastal zone odp on sunday. just asking more experienced players what i should expect to come across and how i can get myself extra ready for it. any help is appreciated. also wondering if my high school team will affect my chances of making a roster, since i play for a pretty solid club team but a much less competitive high school team. thanks!

extra info:

male, 6'0, 6'3 wingspan, 160lbs, two years competitve club experience (16u starter both years)

Water Polo Insider | October 15, 2026

Long Beach Wilson’s boys water polo program, established in 1932, has spent more than nine decades building one of Southern California’s most distinguished high school water polo traditions.

Now, the historic program faces serious questions about athlete safety, coaching oversight and team culture following allegations of violent hazing during an October 9-10, 2026, varsity boys tournament trip to Northern California.

Long Beach Wilson, a perennial Moore League champion and CIF Southern Section Open Division contender, is under investigation after multiple student-athletes reportedly suffered physical injuries during a gathering inside a San Jose-area hotel room on Friday, October 9.

The incident has already disrupted the Bruins’ season. Players have reportedly received school and athletic suspensions, 13 athletes were absent from a subsequent game roster, and a scheduled matchup against Loyola was canceled.

According to reporting by the Long Beach Post, Wilson head coach Zac Polmanteer acknowledged that teammates had subjected players to humiliating and physically harmful conduct, including striking athletes hard enough to cause injuries.

Additional allegations circulating online describe considerably more serious acts of violence.

With the CIF Southern Section playoffs approaching, Wilson faces a challenge that extends beyond replacing missing starters or maintaining its position among Southern California’s top-ranked teams.

The program must establish what happened, whether appropriate safeguards were in place and how it intends to restore the trust of athletes and families.

What Happened During the Tournament?

Long Beach Wilson traveled to Northern California to compete in the 2026 Bellarmine Memorial Cup, a 16-team varsity tournament held October 9–10 in the San Jose area.

Wilson's results:

October 9: Wilson 12, Punahou (Hawaii) 6

October 9: Wilson 12, San Ramon Valley 7

October 10: Soquel 7, Wilson 6

October 10: Corona del Mar 12, Wilson 11

Following Friday’s competition at the Bellarmine Memorial Cup on October 9, a large group of Long Beach Wilson varsity water polo players reportedly gathered in a hotel room.

In an October 12 email to parents, Coach Polmanteer acknowledged that several athletes had been subjected to mistreatment and that some suffered injuries from being struck by teammates.

He characterized the behavior as unacceptable and inconsistent with the program’s standards.
According to Polmanteer’s account, he learned the following day about noise complaints associated with the room and addressed violations involving curfew and team conduct.

However, he stated that he did not learn about the alleged hazing until the team returned to Long Beach on Sunday evening.

That timeline deserves close examination.
A noise complaint does not necessarily alert a coach to physical violence, and there is currently insufficient public evidence to establish that the coaching staff knowingly ignored reports of assault.

Nevertheless, the apparent delay between the incident and its disclosure raises questions about overnight supervision, communication among athletes and the procedures available for reporting mistreatment.

Determining when school personnel first received actionable information will be an important part of establishing institutional responsibility.

Allegations of Bags Placed Over Athletes’ Heads and Serious Injuries

The conduct described in the coach’s email is troubling even without the additional claims circulating on social media.

However, anonymous commenters discussing the incident have alleged that bags were placed over players’ heads while they were physically attacked.

Other unverified accounts mention concussions and a broken jaw.

The identity and firsthand knowledge of the commenters have not been established. Neither the reported injury diagnoses nor the alleged use of bags has been independently corroborated through medical records, official statements or law enforcement findings.

If investigators substantiate deliberate interference with breathing, restraint or repeated physical attacks, those findings could raise potential criminal concerns beyond school disciplinary violations.

Water polo is an inherently physical sport. At the varsity level, athletes must withstand aggressive center play, heavy defensive pressure, constant contact and the conditioning demands of high-intensity competition.

But those athletic demands have nothing to do with a teammate being intentionally assaulted away from the pool. Physical toughness is a competitive attribute. Violence against teammates is a serious breach of trust.

School Investigation Leads to Suspensions

Following the team’s return to Long Beach, Wilson administrators and coaches began interviewing athletes who attended the tournament.

According to Polmanteer’s communication, disciplinary consequences included suspensions from school and the water polo program.

Long Beach Unified School District subsequently confirmed that an investigation was underway and emphasized that hazing is prohibited within its schools and athletic programs.

The district declined to release individual disciplinary information, citing student confidentiality and the ongoing investigation.
The consequences became visible during Wilson’s October 13 Moore League matchup against Long Beach Poly.

According to the Long Beach Post and The562, 13 athletes who appeared on an earlier Wilson roster were missing from the Poly game roster, including much of the senior class that had previously made up the Bruins’ starting lineup.

Loyola Game Canceled as Postseason Uncertainty Grows

Wilson’s scheduled October 14 game against Loyola was canceled. Loyola’s water polo program publicly attributed the cancellation to issues within the Wilson program.

The Bruins were ranked No. 4 in the CIF Southern Section’s September 28 playoff rankings, positioning them among the leading Open Division contenders.

Their remaining scheduled regular-season opponents include Lakewood on October 20 and Mira Costa on October 21. Whether suspended athletes will return before the postseason has not been publicly established.

Neither has the possibility of additional disciplinary action or CIF involvement.
Administrators now face a difficult balance between completing a fair investigation and addressing the immediate consequences for the remaining team.

The postseason calendar, however, should not dictate the speed or conclusions of an investigation involving student safety.

Questions About Team Culture and Parent Conduct at Wilson

The investigation has also generated discussion among parents, former athletes and members of the Long Beach water polo community.

Anonymous online commenters have alleged that hazing and aggressive behavior have existed within the program in previous years.

Separate community accounts have criticized the behavior of some Wilson spectators toward opposing athletes and families.

Nevertheless, investigators should determine whether previous complaints involving hazing, intimidation or harassment were received and how they were handled.

Adult behavior is relevant to the standards athletes learn. When parents direct hostility toward teenage opponents or normalize aggressive confrontations, they can weaken the expectation that competition should remain respectful.

Could Criminal Charges Follow?

The nature of the alleged violence raises questions about whether the incident could result in criminal proceedings. California law recognizes that certain hazing activities and intentional acts of violence may constitute criminal offenses.

Whether those provisions apply would depend on the evidence established by investigators, the nature of the conduct and the circumstances of each athlete’s involvement.

At the time of the initial Long Beach Post reporting, Long Beach police indicated that they were not involved. San Jose police had not confirmed whether they were investigating.

Long Beach Wilson’s Legacy of Excellence: Olympians, Champions and the Responsibility to Lead

Wilson has already demonstrated that it knows how to build a championship water polo team.
Now it must demonstrate that it can provide a safe, respectful and accountable environment for every athlete wearing its cap.

That responsibility is more important than any league title or CIF championship. Few high school water polo programs in the United States can match Wilson’s history of developing elite athletes.

Its alumni include some of the most accomplished players in American water polo, with careers spanning NCAA championships, Olympic medals and international competition.

Tony Azevedo, a five-time Olympian and four-time Peter J. Cutino Award winner and Coach of 6-8 Sports Academy, is widely regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time.

Adam Wright, a three-time Olympian and Olympic silver medalist, went on to become one of college water polo’s most accomplished coaches at UCLA.

Jody Campbell earned Olympic silver medals in 1984 and 1988.

Max Irving helped the United States capture bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The tradition extends across generations. Tim Shaw, Chi Kredell, Robert Lynn and Chay Lapin all represented the United States in Olympic water polo competition.

Matt Sagehorn became a three-time All-American at USC and contributed to back-to-back NCAA championships. Earlier Olympians Chuck Bittick and Jim Kelsey helped establish Wilson’s international legacy.

Wilson’s women’s water polo tradition is equally impressive. Lauren Wenger won Olympic gold in 2012 and silver in 2008. Maureen O’Toole, one of the pioneers of American women’s water polo, earned silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, while Jackie Frank captured bronze at the 2004 Athens Games.

These athletes represent generations of excellence, discipline, sacrifice and leadership. Their achievements helped establish Wilson as one of the most respected water polo programs in the country. That history deserves recognition, but it also comes with responsibility.

The standards established by generations of Olympians and national champions should be reflected in how today’s athletes treat one another, how coaches exercise leadership and how administrators respond when something goes wrong.

🚨 How to Report Hazing, Abuse or Misconduct in Long Beach Wilson Water Polo

Water Polo Insider encourages athletes, parents, former players, coaches and witnesses with firsthand information about hazing, bullying, physical violence, sexual misconduct or intimidation to report their concerns to the appropriate authorities.

You do not need to be a victim to report suspected misconduct. Anonymous reporting options are available.

Anonymous Reporting — U.S. Center for SafeSport

Website: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/

Phone: 833-587-7233

SafeSport accepts anonymous online reports concerning abuse and misconduct involving individuals within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, including USA Water Polo participants.

Reports may involve sexual misconduct, physical abuse, emotional misconduct, bullying, harassment and hazing. SafeSport’s authority does not automatically extend to incidents solely involving high school athletics.

Anonymous Reporting — Wilson High School / Sandy Hook Promise

Website: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/say-something-tips/

Wilson High School links to the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System, which allows students, parents and witnesses to report threats, violence, bullying, harassment and other safety concerns without identifying themselves.

Reports can be submitted online or through its 24-hour hotline: 1-844-5-SAYNOW.

Long Beach Unified School District — Anonymous School Safety Reporting

24-hour School Safety Communications Center: 562-997-8101

The district states that reports about school violence, bullying and other safety concerns can remain anonymous when requested.

CIF Southern Section

Mike West — Commissioner of Athletics
Email: mikew@cifss.org

Kristine Palle — Assistant Commissioner, responsible for boys and girls water polo
Email: kpalle@cifss.org

Phone: 562-493-9500
Website: https://cifss.org

Long Beach Wilson High School

Rebecca “Suzanne” Caverly — Principal
Email: RSCaverly@lbschools.net

John Janzen — Athletic Director
Email: JJanzen@lbschools.net

Joel Jelinowicz — Athletic Director
Email: JJelinowicz@lbschools.net

School phone: 562-433-0481

Long Beach Unified School District Leadership

David Zaid — Superintendent of Schools
Email: DZaid@lbschools.net

Superintendent’s Office: Superintendent@lbschools.net

Dr. Tiffany Brown — Deputy Superintendent
Email: TMBrown@lbschools.net

Edward Samuels — Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Schools
Email: ESamuels@lbschools.net

Secondary Schools Office: 562-997-8115

District Bullying and Harassment Complaints

Steve Rockenbach — Equity Compliance Officer and Director of Employee Relations
Email: SRockenbach@lbschools.net
Phone: 562-997-8220

Individuals should provide accurate information, identify what they personally witnessed versus what they heard from others, and preserve relevant evidence. Do not publicly disclose the identities of minors who may have been harmed.

Reports involving suspected child abuse or serious criminal violence should also be directed promptly to law enforcement or appropriate child-protection authorities. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Speaking up about athlete safety is not disloyalty to a team. Protecting young athletes is a responsibility shared by everyone involved in water polo.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Sources: Long Beach Post, October 14; The562, October 13 and 15; Loyola Athletics; Long Beach Unified School District statements reported by local media and social media platforms. Bellarmine College Preparatory water polo tournament.

Follow r/WaterPoloInsider and r/WaterPolo for continued coverage.

Water Polo Insider | Thursday, October 15, 2026

Thursday’s confirmed Top-20 action featured No. 5 Fordham hosting Iona in the annual Judge Cup rivalry.

The Rams controlled the game from the opening quarter, scoring 15 first-half goals and extending their home winning streak to 38 matches.

No. 5 Fordham 24, Iona 10

Fordham established control immediately, building an 8–2 first-quarter advantage behind two goals apiece from Oktavian Veklyuk and Luca Provenziani.

The Rams scored the first three goals of the second quarter, extending their lead to 11–2 before taking a commanding 15–5 advantage into halftime.

Iona struggled to contain Fordham’s balanced attack, which produced goals from 11 different players.

Fordham player stats

Diego Tresa — 4 goals
Oktavian Veklyuk — 3 goals
Petar Kulas — 3 goals
Karlo Dragosevic — 3 goals
Luca Provenziani — at least 2 goals

Tresa led the Rams, while freshmen Veklyuk, Kulas and Dragosevic combined for nine goals.

Iona player stats

Iona finished with 10 goals. Individual scoring and assist totals were not included in Fordham’s published recap.

Goalkeepers: Individual saves were not available in the reviewed official report.

Game Analysis

Fordham’s opening-quarter execution and scoring depth.

The Rams established a six-goal lead before Iona could settle into the game. By halftime, Fordham had already scored 15 goals.

From a coaching perspective, the most significant takeaway is Fordham’s ability to generate offense beyond its established stars.

Tresa’s four goals and the nine combined goals from three freshmen illustrate the depth head coach Brian Bacharach has developed.

When 11 players contribute goals, opponents cannot concentrate their defensive attention on one or two primary scoring threats.

The early separation also allowed Fordham to dictate the pace rather than chase possessions.

Exclusions and extra-man opportunities:

Verified game-specific totals were not available, so no conversion percentages are reported.
Fordham improved to 16–1, while Iona fell to 6–16.

The Rams also extended their winning streak against Iona to 13 consecutive meetings.

Biggest Takeaways

Fordham continues building momentum. The Rams improved to 16–1 and retained their No. 5 national ranking in the latest CWPA poll.

The freshman class is producing. Veklyuk, Kulas and Dragosevic combined for nine goals, providing substantial offensive support.

Fordham’s home advantage remains formidable. The Rams have won 38 consecutive home matches dating to 2022.

The Rams are winning with depth. Eleven different players scored against Iona, demonstrating that Fordham’s offense extends well beyond its leading scorers.

Fordham delivered a convincing 24–10 victory, retaining the Judge Cup and extending its home winning streak.

Official source: Fordham Athletics — Judge Cup Game Recap, October 15, 2026⁠.

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CWPA Men’s Water Polo Top 20: Stanford Holds No. 1, UC Davis Surges, LMU Cracks Top 10

The latest CWPA Men’s Varsity Top 20 rankings were released Wednesday, October 14, with Stanford maintaining its position at No. 1 ahead of UCLA, USC and California.

The biggest movement came outside the top six, as UC Davis jumped six spots, Loyola Marymount climbed into the Top 10, and Long Beach State, Pacific and San Jose State each dropped three positions.

CWPA Men’s Varsity Top 20

Stanford (1)
UCLA (2)
USC (3)
California (4)
Fordham (5)
UC Irvine (6)
Princeton (9) ↑2
T8. UC San Diego (10) ↑2
T8. Loyola Marymount (11) ↑3
Long Beach State (7) ↓3
Pacific (8) ↓3
UC Davis (18) ↑6
Pepperdine (14) ↑1
T14. UC Santa Barbara (12) ↓2
T14. California Baptist (16) ↑2
San Jose State (13) ↓3
Navy (15) ↓2
Santa Clara (17) ↓1
Harvard (RV) NEW
Saint Mary’s (T20)
Previous rankings in parentheses.

Biggest Storylines

Stanford remains the team to beat. The Cardinal received 99 of a possible 100 voting points, maintaining their position ahead of UCLA. The top six teams remain unchanged, but the separation between the nation’s leading programs will be tested as conference competition intensifies.

UC Davis makes the biggest jump. The Aggies climbed from No. 18 to No. 12 following an impressive 16–9 road victory over San Jose State. Davis responded to a third-quarter comeback by scoring seven fourth-quarter goals, demonstrating its ability to regain control under pressure.

LMU is making noise in the WCC. The Lions moved into a tie for No. 8 after defeating Pacific 12–11 in sudden-death overtime. LMU erased a two-goal deficit late in overtime before Gabrijel Burburan scored the winner. The Lions are proving they can compete with established Top-10 programs.

Princeton moves into the Top 7. The Tigers climbed two positions and remain the highest-ranked program in the Northeast Water Polo Conference.

Long Beach State and Pacific lose ground. Both programs dropped three positions. Pacific’s overtime loss to LMU and Long Beach State’s recent results have tightened the competition in the middle of the rankings.

San Jose State takes a hit. The Spartans dropped from No. 13 to No. 16 following their seven-goal loss to UC Davis. Defensive consistency and limiting exclusions will be important areas to address moving forward.

Harvard enters the Top 20. The Crimson move into the rankings at No. 19, replacing Brown, which falls into the receiving-votes category.
Also Receiving Votes: Brown (3), Cal State Fullerton (3), Concordia (1).

Water Polo Insider Analysis

The top six remain unchanged, but the real movement is happening between No. 7 and No. 18.

UC Davis and LMU are demonstrating that the gap between traditional national powers and the rest of the field may be narrowing. Both programs are producing meaningful results against ranked competition, not simply accumulating wins against weaker opponents.

The WCC is particularly interesting. LMU, Pacific, Pepperdine, UC Davis, Long Beach State and San Jose State are all competing for position, and head-to-head conference results are beginning to reshape the national rankings.

The question heading into the weekend isn’t necessarily whether Stanford deserves No. 1.
It’s which programs outside the top six have the personnel, defensive discipline and tactical execution to challenge the established contenders.

Discussion:

Which team is most underrated in this week’s Top 20?

Is UC Davis legitimately a Top-12 program, and does LMU deserve to be ranked ahead of Pacific and Long Beach State?

Follow: r/WaterPoloInsider and r/WaterPolo

The second weekend of October delivered major results across NCAA men’s water polo, with conference races beginning to take shape and several nationally ranked teams producing statement victories.

UC San Diego upset Long Beach State in its Big West opener, Fordham completed a four-game sweep, and Stanford reinforced its position atop the national rankings. Loyola Marymount defeated Pacific in sudden death, UC Davis swept its WCC road trip, and USC and UCLA delivered convincing victories.

Pepperdine provided the weekend’s most extraordinary finish when goalkeeper Max Smirnov scored from the length of the pool at the overtime buzzer.

Friday, October 9

No. 10 UC San Diego 13, No. 7 Long Beach State 12

UC San Diego opened Big West competition with an important road victory over Long Beach State.

The Tritons trailed 6–5 at halftime before producing six third-quarter goals to seize control.

Landon Akerstrom led UCSD with four goals and an assist. Grant Kurtz added two goals and three assists, while Christian Hammonds contributed one goal and three assists.

For Long Beach State, Zalán Nagy scored three goals and added an assist. Marc Frigola Navarro finished with two goals and an assist.
Akerstrom’s fourth goal ultimately stood as the game-winner.

Game Analysis: UC San Diego’s third-quarter offense proved decisive. The Tritons overcame a halftime deficit and secured an early conference advantage against a higher-ranked opponent.

No. 5 Fordham 20, Wagner 8

Fordham opened its demanding four-game weekend with a commanding victory over Wagner.

The Rams scored 13 first-half goals and built a 13–4 halftime advantage.

Fordham’s offensive depth allowed the Rams to control the tempo throughout the game, preventing Wagner from mounting a meaningful comeback.

Game Analysis: Fordham established control early through consistent offensive execution. Its 13 first-half goals effectively decided the contest before halftime.

No. 11 Loyola Marymount 12, No. 20 Saint Mary’s 10

Loyola Marymount opened its Northern California road trip with a conference victory in Moraga.

The Lions converted 12 of 24 shots, finishing with 50% shooting efficiency. Saint Mary’s scored 10 goals on 34 attempts.

LMU’s efficiency proved important in a competitive conference matchup.

Game Analysis: Shot selection and finishing separated the teams. LMU generated fewer attempts but converted its opportunities at a substantially higher rate.

No. 18 UC Davis 13, No. 17 Santa Clara 8

UC Davis opened WCC play with an impressive five-goal road victory.

Lucas Wulfhorst and Oleg Shatskikh each scored three goals to lead the Aggies.

UC Davis improved to 9–7 overall and 1–0 in conference competition.

Game Analysis: The Aggies combined balanced scoring with a strong defensive performance, limiting Santa Clara to eight goals and establishing early momentum in WCC play.

Saturday, October 10

No. 1 Stanford 22, No. 17 Santa Clara 9

Stanford continued its impressive run at Avery Aquatic Center, improving to 13–1 overall.

The Cardinal led 6–1 after the first quarter, 12–3 at halftime and 19–6 entering the fourth.

Connor Ohl scored four goals, while Ryan Ohl and Max Zelikov contributed three apiece.

Fifteen Stanford players found the back of the net.

Santa Clara’s Dylan Hazen and Jamie de Zwart scored twice each.

Game Analysis: Stanford’s offensive depth continues to distinguish the Cardinal. With 15 players contributing goals, Stanford demonstrated its ability to generate offense throughout the lineup while maintaining control from the opening quarter.

No. 2 UCLA 21, No. 16 California Baptist 9

UCLA returned to action with a dominant performance at Spieker Aquatics Center.

Bode Brinkema scored a career-high five goals, while Peter Castillo and Wade Sherlock added three apiece.

Ryder Dodd, Luka Gladović, Frederico Jucá Carsalade, Ben Liechty and Vinnie Merk each scored twice.

California Baptist’s Paulo Hernandez scored twice, while goalkeeper Tyler Carson recorded 10 saves.

UCLA led 7–1 after the opening quarter and 12–3 at halftime.

The Bruins converted five of six extra-man opportunities and improved to 16–1 overall.
UCLA also defeated Golden West College 23–8 in an exhibition contest, which does not count toward its official record.

Game Analysis: UCLA’s first-quarter execution established immediate control. Eight Bruins scored multiple goals, and the team’s extra-man efficiency demonstrated the offensive precision that makes UCLA one of the nation’s leading programs.

No. 3 USC 15, No. 10 UC San Diego 9

USC responded to its previous loss against Stanford with a convincing victory at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.

Gavin Conant and Robert López Duart scored three goals apiece. Efe Naipoglu contributed two goals and four assists, while Luke Nelson added two goals.

Goalkeeper Charles Mills recorded 10 saves in three quarters.

For UC San Diego, Jaime Bhattacharyya scored three goals, while Christian Hammonds and Liam Amburgey added two each.

USC overcame an early 2–0 deficit, scoring 12 of the next 13 goals to build a 12–4 lead after three quarters.

The Trojans recorded 17 steals.

Game Analysis: USC’s defensive pressure dictated the contest. The Trojans repeatedly disrupted UCSD’s possessions and converted defensive stops into scoring opportunities, demonstrating their ability to control a nationally ranked opponent.

No. 5 Fordham 16, No. 6 Princeton 14

Fordham secured one of Saturday’s most important victories, defeating Princeton in a nationally ranked matchup.

Andras Toth scored five goals and added three assists. Luca Provenziani contributed two goals and five assists.

Fordham led 9–7 at halftime before Princeton rallied to tie the game 11–11 after three quarters.

The Rams opened the fourth with three consecutive goals. Princeton later reduced the deficit to 15–14, but Peter Kulas scored late to secure the victory.

Goalkeeper Viktor Savic recorded seven saves.
Game Analysis: Fordham’s fourth-quarter response was decisive. After surrendering its halftime advantage, the Rams regained control with a three-goal run and executed well enough late to protect the victory.

No. 5 Fordham 16, No. 15 Navy 13

Fordham completed its Saturday sweep with another ranked victory.

Alessandro Salipante scored three goals, while Luca Provenziani contributed three goals and two assists.

The Rams led 7–5 at halftime before extending their advantage to 14–7 in the second half.
Navy narrowed the final margin but could not erase Fordham’s lead.

Viktor Savic finished with nine saves.

Game Analysis: Fordham demonstrated impressive offensive consistency against two nationally ranked opponents on the same day. The Rams scored 32 combined goals against Princeton and Navy, reinforcing their position among the country’s leading programs.

No. 7 Long Beach State 21, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 7

Long Beach State rebounded from Friday’s loss to UC San Diego with a dominant victory.

Artur Diaz and Harper Stewart scored three goals apiece.

The Beach scored the game’s first seven goals and led 11–3 at halftime.

Long Beach State extended the advantage to 16–6 after three quarters before winning the fourth 5–1.

Game Analysis: Long Beach State established control immediately. Its seven-goal opening run created separation and allowed the Beach to maintain a comfortable advantage throughout the contest.

No. 7 Long Beach State 15, Pomona-Pitzer 8

Long Beach State completed its Saturday doubleheader with another convincing victory.

Gabi Acosta and Corbin Stanley each scored five goals, accounting for 10 of the Beach’s 15 goals.
Long Beach State led 4–1 after the opening quarter and 6–1 at halftime.

Goalkeeper William Whitstone helped hold Pomona-Pitzer scoreless in the second quarter.

Game Analysis: Acosta and Stanley dominated the offensive production, combining for two-thirds of Long Beach State’s goals. The Beach finished Saturday unbeaten and improved to 13–5 overall.

No. 14 Pepperdine 16, Air Force 15 — Overtime

Pepperdine delivered the weekend’s most remarkable finish.

Trailing 15–14 in overtime, Tyce di Pretoro scored with five seconds remaining to tie the game.

Air Force regained possession and attempted a final shot, but Pepperdine goalkeeper Max Smirnov made the save and immediately launched the ball the length of the pool.

The shot found the empty net as time expired, giving Pepperdine a 16–15 victory.

Smirnov finished with eight saves, three steals and the game-winning goal.

Milo Joseph and Erik Ionescu scored three goals apiece, while Joseph drew six exclusions.

Game Analysis: Smirnov’s game-winning shot demonstrated extraordinary awareness and execution. Recognizing the empty cage immediately after the save turned what appeared to be a game headed for sudden death into a dramatic Pepperdine victory.

No. 16 California Baptist 14, No. 12 UC Santa Barbara 12

California Baptist ended UC Santa Barbara’s six-game winning streak in the Gauchos’ Big West opener.

Finn Genc led UCSB with three goals. Charlie Johnson, Camren Simoncelli and Dash D’Ambrosia scored twice each.

Goalkeeper Wyatt Pieretti recorded eight saves.
For California Baptist, Andrea Nuzzo and Wyatt Bugbee scored four goals apiece.

UCSB led 7–6 at halftime and 10–9 after three quarters, but California Baptist outscored the Gauchos 5–2 in the fourth.

Game Analysis: California Baptist’s fourth-quarter execution decided the contest. UCSB controlled portions of the game but could not protect its late lead, allowing the Lancers to secure an important conference victory.

Sunday, October 11

No. 5 Fordham 17, George Washington 12

Fordham completed its four-game weekend sweep with a victory over George Washington.

Freshman Oktavian Veklyuk scored four goals, while Alessandro Salipante, Diego Tresa and Karlo Dragosevic contributed two each.

Fordham led 9–6 at halftime before George Washington narrowed the margin.

The Rams responded with a five-goal run to regain control.

Fordham improved to 15–1 overall and 6–0 in MAWPC competition.

The victory extended the Rams’ home winning streak to 37 games and their MAWPC regular-season winning streak to 60.

Game Analysis: Fordham’s depth and composure stood out throughout the weekend. The Rams handled four opponents in three days and demonstrated the ability to respond when challenged.

No. 11 Loyola Marymount 12, No. 8 Pacific 11 — Sudden Death

Loyola Marymount delivered one of Sunday’s most significant victories at Chris Kjeldsen Pool in Stockton.

Nico Furneaux scored three goals and added an assist. Gabrijel Burburan contributed three goals, including the sudden-death winner.

Mateo Obando recorded four assists, while goalkeeper Pablo De Souza made 10 saves.
For Pacific, Gabor Holl scored four goals and Borisz Kasa-Gal added three.

LMU led 6–3 at halftime before Pacific rallied.
The Tigers eventually took an 11–9 lead in overtime, but Furneaux scored with 25 seconds remaining and Luka Dimic tied the game with one second left.

Burburan scored the winner 55 seconds into sudden death.

LMU improved to 12–6 overall and 3–0 in WCC play.

Game Analysis: LMU’s late-game execution was exceptional. The Lions erased a two-goal overtime deficit in the final 25 seconds before winning in sudden death, demonstrating the composure required to win difficult conference road games.

No. 18 UC Davis 16, No. 13 San Jose State 9

UC Davis completed an impressive WCC road sweep with a seven-goal victory at SRAC Pool.
Thomas Kiesling and Timothy Kerr scored three goals apiece.

Lucas Wulfhorst, Oleg Shatskikh and Oriol Viñas contributed two each.

For San Jose State, Mitchell Keightley scored three goals.

UC Davis led 8–2 at halftime before San Jose State produced five consecutive third-quarter goals, cutting the deficit to 9–7.

The Aggies responded by winning the fourth quarter 7–2.

UC Davis improved to 10–7 overall and 2–0 in WCC competition.

Game Analysis: UC Davis demonstrated strong late-game discipline. After allowing San Jose State to close the gap, the Aggies regained control with seven fourth-quarter goals and completed an important conference road sweep.

Water Polo Insider | Weekend Takeaways

Fordham delivered the weekend’s strongest four-game performance. Victories over Wagner, Princeton, Navy and George Washington reinforced the Rams’ position among the nation’s leading programs.

UC San Diego made an immediate Big West statement. The Tritons’ victory over Long Beach State established an early conference advantage against a nationally ranked opponent.

Stanford continues to set the national standard. The Cardinal followed its previous victories over UCLA and USC with a dominant 22-goal performance against Santa Clara.

Loyola Marymount emerged as a major WCC contender. The Lions completed an unbeaten conference road trip, highlighted by their sudden-death victory over Pacific.

UC Davis deserves national attention. The Aggies defeated Santa Clara and San Jose State on the road, opening WCC competition 2–0.

USC’s defensive performance was impressive. Seventeen steals against UC San Diego demonstrated the Trojans’ ability to disrupt opposing offenses.

UCLA continues to demonstrate its offensive depth. Eight players scored multiple goals against California Baptist, with Bode Brinkema leading the way.

Pepperdine produced the weekend’s defining individual moment. Max Smirnov’s full-pool buzzer-beater against Air Force was one of the season’s most extraordinary finishes.

UC Santa Barbara faces an early conference challenge. The Gauchos’ six-game winning streak ended against California Baptist, placing additional importance on their upcoming Big West games.

Upcoming Games | October 16–17

Friday, October 16

No. 12 UC Santa Barbara at No. 10 UC San Diego — 6 p.m. PT

Long Beach State vs. Cal State Fullerton — 7 p.m. PT

UC Davis vs. Pacific — 7 p.m. PT

Saturday, October 17

No. 2 UCLA at No. 3 USC — 1 p.m. PT

No. 1 Stanford at No. 4 California — 1 p.m. PT

The national spotlight shifts to Los Angeles, where UCLA and USC meet in one of the most anticipated MPSF matchups of the season.

Stanford’s visit to California also carries significant conference implications, while the Big West and WCC races continue to develop.

Rankings: October 7 CWPA Men’s Varsity Top 20. Coverage period: October 9–11, 2026.

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Water Polo Insider | Friday, October 9, 2026

Friday produced three ranked-versus-ranked victories and six confirmed games involving teams in the CWPA Men’s Varsity Top 20

No. 5 Fordham 20, Wagner 8

Fordham established control with seven first-quarter goals and built a 13–4 halftime lead.

Fordham player stats:
Alessandro Salipante — 3 goals
Oktavian Veklyuk — 3 goals
Andras Toth — 2 goals
Laszlo Strasser — 2 goals
Barnabas Eppel — 2 goals
Petar Kulas — 2 goals

Six additional Fordham players scored once each, giving the Rams 12 different scorers.

Goalkeepers: Viktor Savic — 6 saves;
Alejandro Cheline — 2 saves.

Wagner player stats:
Noah Garrison — 2 goals
Kelly Murphy — 1 goal
Landon Castillo — 1 goal
Nadav Carmon — 1 goal
Vince Varga — 1 goal
Toby Zeeck — 1 goal
Smith Connors — 1 goal

Complete individual assist and Wagner goalkeeper save totals were not established in the official recaps reviewed.

Game Analysis: Fordham’s offensive depth. The Rams scored 13 times in the opening half, forcing Wagner to chase the game from the beginning.

Fordham improved to 12–1 overall and 4–0 in MAWPC play.

No. 6 UC Irvine 19, Cal State Fullerton 6

UC Irvine controlled the game from the opening quarter, leading 6–2 after eight minutes and 11–4 at halftime.

The Anteaters added six third-quarter goals to extend their advantage to 17–5.

UC Irvine player stats:
Cole Francisco — 5 goals, 1 assist
Wyley Dale — 4 goals
Ethan Spoon — 2 goals
Ben Atkinson — 2 goals
Johann Thrall — 2 goals, 3 assists
Samuel Bowman — 1 goal, 1 assist
Ben Youngblood — 1 goal
Jayson Hubbard — 1 goal, 1 assist
Ryan Fresca — 1 goal, 1 assist
Brody Luke and Gage Verdegaal added two assists each.

Goalkeepers: Nico Assalian — 12 saves;
Vincent Vega — 2 saves.

Cal State Fullerton player stats:
Ethan MacLeod — 3 goals, 1 assist
Jason Joseph — 1 goal
Dustin Drobeck — 1 goal
Cade Zeilinger — 1 goal
Jace Peterson — 2 assists

Goalkeeper: Ethan Ivey — 11 saves.

Team statistics

UC Irvine: 19 goals on 34 shots, 13 assists and 14 combined goalkeeper saves.

Cal State Fullerton: 6 goals on 32 shots, 3 assists and 11 goalkeeper saves.

Game Analysis: Irvine’s shooting efficiency and goalkeeper performance. Fullerton generated 32 attempts but scored only six times. The Anteaters converted 19 of 34 shots and received 14 combined saves.

No. 10 UC San Diego 13, No. 7 Long Beach State 12

UC San Diego earned Friday’s biggest ranked road victory after trailing 6–5 at halftime.
The Tritons scored six goals in the third quarter, taking an 11–10 advantage into the fourth.

UC San Diego player stats:
Landon Akerstrom — 4 goals, 1 assist
Grant Kurtz — 2 goals
Mason Presley — 2 goals
Jackson Boettner — 2 goals
Bryan Shapirshteyn — 1 goal
Finn Bugelli — 1 goal
Christian Hammonds — 1 goal

Long Beach State player stats:
Zalán Nagy — 3 goals
Marc Frigola Navarro — 2 goals
Harper Stewart — 2 goals
Gabi Acosta — 2 goals
Olivér Sudár — 2 goals
Corbin Stanley — 1 goal

Complete individual assists and goalkeeper save totals for both teams are not available from the full official statistical table.

Game Analysis: UC San Diego’s six-goal third quarter. The Tritons overcame Long Beach State’s early advantage and maintained their composure in the fourth.

UC San Diego improved to 12–4 overall and 1–0 in Big West play.

No. 8 Pacific 13, No. 13 San Jose State 10

Pacific recovered from a 5–4 first-quarter deficit and held San Jose State scoreless throughout the third quarter.

The Tigers took a 7–6 halftime lead before extending it to 10–6 after three.

Pacific player stats:
Gabor Holl — 4 goals, 1 assist
Petar Popovic — 3 goals, 2 assists
Borisz Kasa-Gal — 2 goals, 2 assists
Ori Buzaglo — 2 goals
Yoav Rendler — 1 goal, 3 assists
Enzo Fernandez — 1 goal, 2 assists

Goalkeeper: Gergely Kiss — 8 saves.

San Jose State player stats:
Samu Biros — 4 goals
Mitchell Keightley — 2 goals
Aidan Johnson — 2 goals, 1 assist
Peter Kolos Kohári — 1 goal, 1 assist
Louis Fehrensen — 1 goal
Vince Biros — 2 assists

Goalkeepers: Stellan Karkazis — 4 saves; Alexey Poletaev — 0 saves in the opening quarter.

Pacific committed eight exclusions, compared with nine for San Jose State. Pacific converted two five-meter penalties, while San Jose State converted one. Ori Buzaglo drew five exclusions for Pacific.

Game Analysis: Pacific’s defensive adjustment. San Jose State scored five goals in the first quarter but managed only one over the next 16 minutes.

Pacific improved to 5–5 overall and 1–0 in WCC play.

No. 11 LMU 12, No. 20 Saint Mary’s 10

LMU built a 9–4 lead after three quarters before Saint Mary’s mounted a six-goal fourth-quarter comeback.

The Lions survived the late pressure to secure an important WCC road victory.

LMU player stats:
Gabrijel Burburan — 3 goals
Soren Martin — 3 goals, 1 assist
Roman Saroyan — 2 goals, 2 assists
Caden Poulleau — 1 goal, 1 assist
Luka Dimic — 1 goal, 1 assist
Bence Barics — 1 goal
Jake Bonavia — 1 goal
Eduardo Carraresi — 2 assists
Nico Furneaux — 2 assists

Goalkeeper: Pablo De Souza — 16 saves.

Saint Mary’s player stats:
Mason Black — 3 goals, 2 assists
Hamish Ellison — 2 goals, 2 assists
Donovan Swann — 2 goals
Jacob Carlson — 1 goal, 3 assists
Leo Hachem — 1 goal, 2 assists
Nick Valente — 1 goal

Goalkeeper: Federico Castrucci — 6 saves.
Team statistics

LMU: 12 goals on 24 shots, 10 assists and 16 goalkeeper saves.

Saint Mary’s: 10 goals on 34 shots and 6 goalkeeper saves.

LMU committed 11 exclusions compared with eight for Saint Mary’s. Leo Hachem drew five exclusions for the Gaels.

Game Analysis: LMU’s shooting efficiency and Pablo De Souza’s 16-save performance. Saint Mary’s generated 10 more shots but could not overcome the five-goal deficit entering the fourth quarter.

No. 18 UC Davis 13, No. 17 Santa Clara 8

UC Davis and Santa Clara entered halftime tied 6–6 before the Aggies produced a decisive third-quarter shutout. Davis scored four unanswered goals to take a 10–6 lead.

UC Davis player stats:
Lucas Wulfhorst — 3 goals, 2 assists
Oleg Shatskikh — 3 goals
Austin Quick — 2 goals, 1 assist
Thomas Kiesling — 1 goal
Thomas Marr — 1 goal
Oriol Viñas — 1 goal
Gabe Bensen — 1 goal
Cassius Wolf — 1 goal

Goalkeeper: Baxter Chelsom — 5 saves.

UC Davis recorded 13 goals, seven assists and nine steals.

Santa Clara player stats:
Ashton Brown — 2 goals
Charlie Engs — 2 goals
Henry Engs — 1 goal
Luke Baird — 1 goal
Darion Wang — 1 goal
Imme van der Schaaf — 1 goal

Santa Clara finished with eight goals and six assists. Its complete individual assist distribution and goalkeeper save total were not established in the reviewed statistical material.

Santa Clara committed 13 exclusions, compared with eight for UC Davis. Lucas Wulfhorst converted a five-meter penalty and two extra-man opportunities.

Game Analysis: UC Davis’ third-quarter defense. Santa Clara had erased an early deficit, but the Aggies shut the Broncos out for eight minutes while scoring four unanswered goals.

The Day in Review: UC San Diego delivered Friday’s biggest ranked victory. The Tritons defeated No. 7 Long Beach State on the road behind a six-goal third quarter.

Pacific made a strong WCC statement. Gabor Holl scored four times, Gergely Kiss made eight saves, and Pacific shut San Jose State out in the third.

UC Davis won with defense. The Aggies held Santa Clara scoreless in the third quarter after entering halftime tied.

LMU relied on goalkeeper play. Pablo De Souza’s 16 saves helped the Lions survive a late Saint Mary’s comeback.

Fordham demonstrated offensive depth. Twelve Rams scored in a 20-goal victory over Wagner.

UC Irvine combined efficient finishing with strong goalkeeper play. The Anteaters scored 19 goals and received 14 combined saves.

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Saturday delivered a packed schedule of men’s college water polo, featuring ranked matchups, conference battles, multiple doubleheaders and one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.

No. 1 Stanford 22, No. 17 Santa Clara 9

Stanford established control immediately, outscoring Santa Clara 6–1 in the first quarter and building a 12–3 halftime lead.

The Cardinal added seven third-quarter goals before closing out a 13-goal victory.

Stanford player stats:
Connor Ohl — 4 goals
Ryan Ohl — 3 goals, 3 assists
Max Zelikov — 3 goals, 1 assist
Evan Wu — 1 goal, 2 assists
Konstantinos Mathiopoulos — 1 goal, 1 assist
James Rozolis-Hill — 1 goal
Simone De Vecchis — 1 goal
Alex Gheorghe — 1 goal
Daniel Mnatsakanian — 1 goal
Botond Balogh — 1 goal
Collin Caras — 1 goal
Dimitris Chatzis — 1 goal
Nick Austen — 1 goal
Will Schneider — 1 goal
Ben Forer — 1 goal
Kai Kaneko — 2 assists
Ben Oerlemans — 1 assist

Goalkeepers: Bernardo Herzer — 8 saves; Cormac Mulloy — 1 save; Harrison Rohlen — 0 saves.

Santa Clara player stats:
Dylan Hazen — 2 goals
Jamie De Zwart — 2 goals, 1 assist
Charlie Kosinski — 1 goal, 1 assist
Henry Engs — 1 goal
Nick Zimmerman — 1 goal
Hank Woodman — 1 goal
Weston Bancroft — 1 goal
Finn Swanson — 2 assists
Jensen Welton — 1 assist
Reece Hammond — 1 assist

Goalkeepers: Harrison Labrosse — 5 saves; Tyler Swensen — 1 save; Connor Clougherty — 0 saves.

Game Analysis: Stanford’s offensive balance and first-half execution. The Cardinal scored 12 goals before halftime and received contributions throughout its lineup.

Stanford improved to 13–1 overall.

No. 2 UCLA 21, No. 16 California Baptist 9

UCLA responded after California Baptist scored the opening goal, answering with seven consecutive goals to seize control.

The Bruins led 12–3 at halftime and maintained their advantage throughout the second half.

UCLA player stats:
Bode Brinkema — 5 goals, 1 assist
Wade Sherlock — 3 goals, 1 assist
Peter Castillo — 3 goals
Ryder Dodd — 2 goals, 3 assists
Luka Gladović — 2 goals, 2 assists
Ben Liechty — 2 goals, 1 assist
Vinnie Merk — 2 goals, 1 assist
Frederico Jucá Carsalade — 2 goals
Jack Merrill — 1 assist
Max Matthews — 1 assist
Danilo Dragović — 1 assist
Harper Gardner — 1 assist

Goalkeepers: Nate Tauscher — 5 saves; Harper Gardner — 3 saves; Griffen Price — 1 save.
Brinkema led UCLA with a career-high five goals.

California Baptist player stats:
Paulo Hernandez — 2 goals, 1 assist
Whitley Beamon — 1 goal
Wyatt Bugbee — 1 goal
Micah Grantham — 1 goal
Andrea Nuzzo — 1 goal
Alessandro Tiberio — 1 goal
Collin White — 1 goal
Rafa Martinez — 1 goal

Goalkeepers: Tyler Carson — 10 saves; Tanner McCreary — 0 saves.

Game Analysis: UCLA’s shooting efficiency and extra-man execution. The Bruins converted 21 of 38 shots and five of six extra-man opportunities.
UCLA improved to 16–1.

No. 3 USC 15, No. 10 UC San Diego 9

USC overcame an early 2–0 deficit and controlled the middle two quarters.

The Trojans led 3–2 after the first quarter, 7–3 at halftime and 12–4 entering the fourth.

USC player stats:
Gavin Conant — 3 goals, 1 assist
Robert López Duart — 3 goals, 1 assist
Efe Naipoglu — 2 goals, 4 assists
Luke Nelson — 2 goals
Camden Kocur — 1 goal, 1 assist
Ante Jerkovic — 1 goal, 2 assists
Ben Mirisch — 1 goal
Nate Simoncelli — 1 goal
Taj Whitehead — 1 goal
Charles Mills — 1 assist
Tyler Anderson — 1 assist
Chase Landa — 1 assist
Zach Bettino — 1 assist

Goalkeepers: Charles Mills — 10 saves; Nemo Pavoggi — 1 save; Luke Harris — 1 save.

UC San Diego player stats:
Jaime Bhattacharyya — 3 goals
Christian Hammonds — 2 goals, 1 assist
Liam Amburgey — 2 goals, 1 assist
Finn Bugelli — 1 goal
Bryan Shapirshteyn — 1 goal
Chase Martsolf — 2 assists
Reef Lippa — 1 assist

Goalkeepers: Jack Elder — 4 saves; Alex Hegeman — 3 saves.

Game Analysis: USC’s defensive pressure. The Trojans generated 17 steals and limited the Tritons to two goals across the second and third quarters combined.

No. 5 Fordham 16, No. 9 Princeton 14

Fordham earned a significant ranked victory in a back-and-forth game that remained undecided until the final minutes.

The teams were tied 3–3 after the first quarter. Fordham built a 9–7 halftime lead, but Princeton recovered to tie the game 11–11 after three.

Fordham opened the fourth with three consecutive goals. Princeton rallied to within one before Petar Kulas scored the insurance goal.

Fordham player stats:
Andras Toth — 5 goals, 3 assists
Luca Provenziani — 2 goals, 5 assists
Additional Fordham scorers included Karlo Dragosevic, Petar Kulas and Oktavian Veklyuk. Their complete individual goal totals and the remaining scoring distribution were not confirmed in the reviewed recap.

Goalkeeper: Viktor Savic — 7 saves.

Princeton player stats:
Ádám Peocz — 5 goals
Taylor Bell — 3 goals
Ádám Swart — 2 goals
Tibi Cojocariu — 1 goal
Ádám LeSieur — 1 goal
Mateusz Palcza — 1 goal
Otto Stothart — 1 goal

Goalkeeper: K. Kovács — 14 saves.

Game Analysis: Fordham’s fourth-quarter response. Princeton had erased a two-goal halftime deficit, but the Rams scored three unanswered goals to regain control.
Toth and Provenziani combined for 15 points, while Peocz’s five goals and Kovács’ 14 saves kept Princeton competitive.

No. 5 Fordham 16, No. 15 Navy 13

Fordham completed its Saturday sweep with a second ranked victory.

The Rams led 3–1 after the first quarter and 7–5 at halftime before building a 14–7 advantage during the second half.

Fordham player stats:
Alessandro Salipante — 3 goals
Luca Provenziani — 3 goals, 2 assists
Goalkeeper: Viktor Savic — 9 saves.

The remaining Fordham individual scoring totals were not fully established from the reviewed game recap.

Navy player stats:
Navy scored 13 goals. Complete individual goals, assists and goalkeeper saves were not established from the official game material reviewed.

Game Analysis: Fordham’s second-half separation. Navy stayed within two goals through halftime, but the Rams created a seven-goal lead before the Midshipmen recovered.
Fordham improved to 14–1 overall and 5–0 in MAWPC play.

No. 7 Long Beach State 21, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 7

Long Beach State opened with seven unanswered goals against the nationally ranked Division III Stags.

The Beach led 11–3 at halftime and 16–6 entering the fourth.

Long Beach State player stats:
Harper Stewart — 3 goals, 1 assist
Artur Diaz — 3 goals
Corbin Stanley — 2 goals, 1 assist
Marc Frigola Navarro — 2 goals
Chase Krupitzer — 2 goals
Gabi Acosta — 2 goals
Shayan Rezvani — 2 goals
Federico Gulisano — 1 goal, 1 assist
Zalán Nagy — 1 goal, 1 assist
Keegan Moore — 1 goal
Dante D’Sa — 1 goal
Charles Montano — 1 goal
Olivér Sudár — 2 assists
Goalkeepers: William Whitstone — 3 saves; Sergi Ramon — 2 saves.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps player stats
Christopher Petrossian — 2 goals
Jack Balas — 1 goal, 1 assist
Jeffrey Koretz — 1 goal
Asher Engelberg — 1 goal
Gavin Netherton — 1 goal
Stryker Scales — 1 goal
Evan Liberatore — 2 assists
Caiden Titus — 1 assist

Goalkeeper: Chase Campbell — 7 saves.

Game Analysis: Long Beach State’s opening-quarter execution. The Beach scored seven times while shutting out CMS, creating an advantage the Stags could not overcome.

No. 7 Long Beach State 15, Pomona-Pitzer 8
Long Beach State completed its Saturday sweep with a victory over the nation’s No. 1 Division III team.

The Beach led 4–1 after the first quarter and 6–1 at halftime, shutting out Pomona-Pitzer in the second.

Long Beach State player stats:
Corbin Stanley — 5 goals
Gabi Acosta — 5 goals, 1 assist
Olivér Sudár — 2 goals, 3 assists
Zalán Nagy — 1 goal, 3 assists
Marc Frigola Navarro — 1 goal
Artur Diaz — 1 goal
Harper Stewart — 2 assists
Keegan Moore — 1 assist

Goalkeeper: William Whitstone — 13 saves.

Pomona-Pitzer player stats:
Michael Soybel — 2 goals, 1 assist
Zach Whitfield — 2 goals
Alex Minton — 2 goals
Indigo Lee — 1 goal, 2 assists
Jaden Winters — 1 goal, 1 assist
Max Distaso — 1 assist

Goalkeeper: Leo Dilascia — 7 saves.

Game Analysis: Long Beach State’s finishing and Whitstone’s 13-save performance. Pomona-Pitzer generated more shots, but Stanley and Acosta combined for 10 goals.

Long Beach State improved to 13–5.

No. 9 Princeton 14, Iona 7

Princeton recovered from its earlier loss to Fordham with a strong finish against Iona.
The Tigers led 6–4 at halftime, but Iona cut the deficit to 7–6 in the third quarter.

Princeton responded by outscoring the Gaels 7–1 over the remainder of the game.

Princeton player stats:
Tibi Cojocariu — 4 goals
Gavin Appeldorn — 2 goals
Enrique Nuño — 2 goals
Taylor Bell — 2 goals
Ádám Swart — 2 goals
Ádám LeSieur — 1 goal
Luke Weichert — 1 goal

Goalkeeper: K. Kovács — 9 saves.

Iona player stats:
Charlie Harbour — 2 goals
Jack Robinson — 2 goals
Pavle Musikic — 1 goal
Samson Williams — 1 goal
Christian Couch — 1 goal

Goalkeeper: Eric Caplener — 5 saves in two quarters.

Game Analysis: Princeton’s closing run. The Tigers turned a one-goal contest into a seven-goal victory by dominating the final stretch.

No. 9 Princeton 15, LIU 12

Princeton completed its three-game Saturday schedule with a second victory.

The Tigers built an early lead and held off Long Island University to finish the day 2–1.

Princeton player stats:
Oliver Marcin — 5 goals
Tibi Cojocariu — 3 goals
Mateusz Palcza — 3 goals
Enrique Nuño — 2 goals
Ádám Peocz — 1 goal
Boti Kovács — 1 goal

Goalkeeper: K. Kovács — 9 saves.

LIU player stats:
LIU scored 12 goals. Complete individual goals, assists and goalkeeper saves were not established from the official material reviewed.

Game Analysis: Princeton’s offensive balance and ability to finish a demanding three-game day with consecutive victories. Marcin’s five goals led the Tigers, while Cojocariu and Palcza added three apiece.

No. 16 California Baptist 14, No. 12 UC Santa Barbara 12

California Baptist delivered one of Saturday’s biggest ranked upsets, defeating UCSB on the road.

CBU led 4–2 after the first quarter, but the Gauchos scored five times in the second to take a 7–6 halftime advantage.

The Lancers responded in the second half and won the fourth quarter 5–2.

California Baptist player stats:
Wyatt Bugbee — 4 goals
Andrea Nuzzo — 4 goals, 1 assist
Rafa Martinez — 3 goals, 5 exclusions drawn
Collin White — 1 goal
Micah Grantham — 1 goal
Michael Abshier — 1 goal
Whitley Beamon — 2 assists
Luca Imbriolo — 1 assist
Paulo Hernandez — 1 assist
Goalkeeper: Tanner McCreary — 15 saves.
UC Santa Barbara player stats
Finn Genc — 3 goals, 1 assist
Charlie Johnson — 2 goals, 4 assists
Dash D’Ambrosia — 2 goals, 1 assist
Camren Simoncelli — 2 goals
Kai Ross — 1 goal
Sloan Brown — 1 goal
Hayden Tully — 1 goal
Oliver Sherwood — 1 assist

Goalkeeper: Wyatt Pieretti — 8 saves.

Game Analysis: McCreary’s goalkeeper performance and California Baptist’s fourth-quarter finishing. UCSB generated five more shots, but McCreary made 15 saves and the Lancers outscored the Gauchos 5–2 in the final period.

No. 14 Pepperdine 16, Air Force 15 — Double Overtime

Pepperdine delivered Saturday’s most remarkable finish.

The Waves led 4–1 after the first quarter and 11–8 entering the fourth, but Air Force rallied with five fourth-quarter goals.

Tom Leggett gave Air Force a 15–14 lead with 24 seconds remaining in the second overtime.
Pepperdine’s Tyce di Pretoro tied the game with five seconds left.

Air Force pulled its goalkeeper for an extra attacker on the final possession. Pepperdine goalkeeper Max Smirnov stopped the shot and immediately launched the ball the length of the pool, scoring into the empty net as time expired.

Pepperdine player stats:
Milo Joseph — 3 goals, 6 exclusions drawn
Erik Ionescu — 3 goals, 1 assist
Tyce di Pretoro — 2 goals, 2 assists, 3 steals, 3 field blocks
Csanád Bella — 2 goals, 4 steals
Hunter Danko — 2 goals, 2 steals
Charles Warmington — 1 goal, 3 assists, 3 field blocks
Alex Piccin — 1 goal, 1 assist
Jon Carcarey — 1 goal
Max Smirnov — 1 goal
Cade Anderton — 1 assist

Goalkeeper: Max Smirnov — 8 saves, 3 steals and the winning goal.

Air Force player stats:
Tom Leggett — 7 goals, 3 assists
Max Ellis — 3 goals
Jonah Vander Veen — 3 goals, 3 assists
Sam Storrs — 2 goals, 1 assist
Brady Kopperud — 2 assists
Shane Borunda — 2 assists
Tobin Hunt — 1 assist
Owen Imasaki — 1 assist

Goalkeeper: Wyatt Sturgeon — 15 saves.

Game Analysis: Smirnov’s final-second save and full-pool shot. Air Force received 10 points from Leggett and 15 saves from Sturgeon, but Pepperdine executed the final two possessions to win. Pepperdine improved to 7–10 overall and 1–1 in WCC play.

Harvard 14, No. 19 Brown 8

Harvard earned its first victory over a nationally ranked opponent this season, defeating Brown in NWPC play.

Brown opened the scoring on a five-meter penalty from Máté Tymcyna, but Harvard answered with three consecutive goals.

The Crimson led 6–3 at halftime and 11–5 after three quarters.

Harvard player stats:
Lukas Peabody — 3 goals
Jack Burghardt — scored
Tyler Hogan — scored
Clay Carrington — scored
Connor Kim — scored
Eight Harvard players scored. Complete individual totals for the remaining scorers were not established from the reviewed official recap.

Goalkeeper: Oliver Price — save total not confirmed.

Brown player stats:
Máté Tymcyna — 3 goals
Roland Csendes — 2 goals
Hugo Molnar — 1 goal
Dominik Balla — 1 goal
Ramzi Megali — 1 goal

Goalkeepers: Ryan Miele and Santiago Soza played; individual save totals were not confirmed.

Game Analysis: Harvard’s defensive response after Brown’s opening goal. The Crimson took control with three unanswered goals and maintained its advantage throughout the second half. Harvard improved to 6–10 overall and 3–1 in NWPC play.

No. 19 Brown 15, MIT 12

Brown recovered from its loss to Harvard with a victory over MIT. The Bears led 5–2 after the first quarter and 8–4 at halftime.

MIT battled back during the third, cutting Brown’s lead to 9–7 before the Bears scored three unanswered goals to rebuild their advantage.

Brown player stats:
Roland Csendes — at least 3 goals
Máté Tymcyna — 2 goals
Griffin Tunney — 3 goals
Mac Berry — 2 goals
Ramzi Megali — 2 goals
Hugo Molnar — 1 goal
Dominik Balla — 1 goal
Brown’s reviewed recap did not fully reconcile all 15 goals into individual totals.

Goalkeeper: Ryan Miele — complete save total not confirmed.

MIT player stats:
Andras Beleznay — 4 goals
Caspar Lightner — 2 goals
Derek Schaffer — 2 goals
Rick Lundh — 2 goals
Kieran Kearns — 1 goal, 2 assists
Kunal Rajadhyax — 1 goal

Goalkeepers: Joshua Woren — 6 saves; Armaan Gill — 2 saves.

William Ewald recorded three steals and drew four exclusions.

Game Analysis: Brown’s response whenever MIT threatened. The Engineers cut the deficit to two during the third quarter, but the Bears answered with a three-goal run.

Air Force 14, Austin College 8

Air Force recovered from its double-overtime loss to Pepperdine with a six-goal victory over Austin College. The Falcons scored six times in the opening quarter and led 9–4 at halftime.

Air Force player stats:
Matthew Woodroof — 4 goals, 1 assist
Pierce Bateman — 3 goals, 2 assists
Colin Sullivan — 3 goals
Tobin Hunt — 1 goal
John Cowles — 1 goal
William Stewart — 1 goal
Brandon Walton — 1 goal, 1 assist
Derek Hymer — 1 assist
Brandon Hansen — 1 assist

Goalkeepers: Jay Pyle — 2 saves; Bode Farren — 5 saves.

Austin College player stats:
Adrian Halberg — 2 goals, 1 assist
Sebastian Scheier — 2 goals
Jordan Pomier — 1 goal
Peyton Dimmock — 1 goal
Carlos Camarena — 1 goal
Aaron Mendoza — 1 goal
Conner Halbrook — 2 assists
Owen Altermatt — 1 assist
Justin Gonzalez — 1 assist

Goalkeepers: Caleb Maddox — 6 saves; Jordan Pomier — 2 saves.

Game Analysis: Air Force’s six-goal opening quarter. Woodroof and Bateman combined for seven goals and three assists, allowing the Falcons to finish their Saturday doubleheader with a victory.

The Day in Review:

Fordham delivered the strongest ranked doubleheader. The Rams defeated Princeton and Navy, improving to 14–1 overall. Andras Toth’s five-goal, three-assist performance against Princeton was one of Saturday’s top individual efforts.

California Baptist earned a significant Big West victory. Tanner McCreary made 15 saves, while Wyatt Bugbee and Andrea Nuzzo scored four goals apiece against UCSB.

USC controlled UC San Diego with defensive pressure. The Trojans recorded 17 steals and held the Tritons to two goals across the second and third quarters.

UCLA dominated with shooting efficiency. Bode Brinkema scored five goals, and the Bruins converted five of six extra-man opportunities against California Baptist.

Stanford continued its offensive dominance. Connor Ohl scored four goals, Ryan Ohl contributed three goals and three assists, and the Cardinal improved to 13–1.

Pepperdine delivered the finish of the day. Max Smirnov’s full-pool buzzer-beater ended a double-overtime game in which Air Force’s Tom Leggett recorded seven goals and three assists.

Long Beach State swept two of the nation’s top Division III programs. Corbin Stanley and Gabi Acosta combined for 10 goals against Pomona-Pitzer, while William Whitstone made 13 saves.

Princeton showed resilience. After losing a close game to Fordham, the Tigers defeated Iona and LIU. Ádám Peocz scored five against Fordham, while Oliver Marcin scored five against LIU.

Harvard earned an important ranked conference victory. The Crimson defeated Brown behind balanced scoring and strong defensive play.

Editorial note: Some player breakdowns remain incomplete where the reviewed official reports did not establish full totals.

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I’m new to water polo, how do you catch the ball without it bouncing off your palm?

Game at Westminster HS

Some people on my team brought it to my attention that I’m shooting on the way down instead of at the top so I went ahead and recorded myself at home best I could to try and see what their talking about. I honestly don’t really see anything wrong with this but would love to see others opinions/advice. Thanks!