No. 1 UCLA Opens MPSF Play at No. 2 California, No. 4 Stanford

LOS ANGELES – No. 1 UCLA (15-0, 0-0 MPSF WEST) opens league play this week within the Bay Area. The Bruins start at No. 2 California (11-1, 0-0) on Saturday, Oct. 4 with a 1:00 p.m. PT tilt at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Then UCLA will tackle No. 4 Stanford (8-2, 0-0) on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1:00 p.m. PT at Avery Aquatic Center. Both video games might be streamed dwell on Overnght.com and have dwell stats on the 6-8 Sports platform (hyperlinks under). You may also observe together with dwell scoring updates on the Bruins’ official account on Twitter(X).

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Saturday, Oct. 4 (Spieker Aquatics Complex – MPSF Game – Berkeley, Calif.)

1:00 PM PT – No. 1 UCLA at. No. 2 California | LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS

Sunday, Oct. 5 (Avery Aquatic Center – MPSF Game – Stanford, Calif.)
1:00 PM PT – No. 1 UCLA at. No. 4 Stanford | LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS

SERIES HISTORY

• UCLA is 98-77-1 all-time towards California. The Bruins defeated the Golden Bears earlier this yr, 11-9, within the finals of the Overnght MPSF Invitational on Sept. 21. Cal scored the primary three targets of the sport and led 6-4 with 5:40 left within the third earlier than the Bruins closed the sport out on a 7-3 run to win the sport.
• UCLA is 85-92 all-time towards Stanford. The Bruins defeated the Cardinal earlier this yr, 13-12, within the semifinals of the Overnght MPSF Invitational on Sept. 20. The Bruins by no means led till 1:14 of the fourth quarter when Frederico Jucá Carsalade scored the game-winning objective.

RECAPPING LAST WEEK
No. 1 UCLA went 4-0 final week, finishing a three-peat on the 2025 Overnght MPSF Invitational, co-hosted by UCLA and USC (Sept. 19-21). The Bruins opened with a 25-6 win over Redlands (Sept. 19). Then UCLA posted a 19-12 win over No. 11 UC Davis within the quarterfinals and a 13-12 come-from-behind win within the semifinals over No. 4 Stanford, each on Sept. 20. The Bruins received the title on Sunday, Sept. 21, rallying to defeat No. 3 California, 11-9.

• LMU Game Notes (Sept. 27): No. 1 UCLA (15-0) prolonged its successful streak to 18 video games (courting again to final yr’s NCAA Championship run) with a 22-10 win at No. 12 LMU (4-7) on Saturday at Burns Aquatics Center. The Bruins improved to 33-0 all-time towards the LMU Lions. The Bruins’ offense was led by a game-high seven factors on a season-high-tying 5 targets from sophomore Ryder Dodd (added two assists). Junior Wade Sherlock scored his first hat trick of the yr and added three assists to attain six factors. Sophomore Bode Brinkema netted his fourth hat trick of the yr whereas redshirt senior Eli Liechty scored his second hat trick of the season. Redshirt freshman Nick Tovani made his first collegiate begin and tallied 5 saves and one steal whereas permitting 9 targets in three quarters of motion. Redshirt sophomore Nate Tauscher performed the primary 4:21 of the fourth quarter, pitching a shutout whereas tallying two steals. Redshirt freshman Joey Kent performed the ultimate 3:39 of the sport, tallying one save whereas giving up one rating. A complete of 10 Bruins scored within the contest. UCLA scored the primary two targets of the sport and received the primary quarter, 5-3. The Bruins received the second quarter, 5-2, to construct a 10-5 lead by halftime. UCLA exploded for eight targets within the third to take an 18-9 lead into the ultimate stanza. The Bruins received the fourth quarter, 4-1, to offer the 22-10 last.

OFF TO A BALANCED START
In addition to successful its first 15 video games, 10 of which have been by double digits, UCLA has reached double-digit scorers in 12-of-15 video games this season. The double-digit video games embody: 13 gamers towards Navy, 10 vs. UC Davis, 11 at UC San Diego, 10 vs. California Baptist University, 11 vs. George Washington, 10 vs. Fordham, a season-best 15 vs. Bucknell (each participant on the journey however Noah Rowe, who had two assists within the sport), 11 vs. Harvard, 11 vs. Pepperdine, 15 vs. Redlands, 11 vs. UC Davis, and 10 vs. LMU. The Bruins solely had seven gamers rating within the 13-7 win over No. 8 UC Irvine, 9 gamers rating within the 13-12 win over No. 4 Stanford, and a season-low 5 gamers rating within the 11-9 win over No. 3 California.

LEADING FROM THE JUMP

So far in its first 15 video games, the Bruins have solely trailed in three of the contests, together with for 1:59 of sport seven vs. Bucknell (began the sport 0-1, then went on a 14-2 run, together with an 11-0 stretch breaking open a 3-3 tie). UCLA had scored first in each sport this season till the competition towards the Bison. The Bruins additionally trailed for a complete of 0:55 vs. No. 11 UC Davis (Sept. 20), for 23:14 vs. No. 4 Stanford (Sept. 20) and for 15:59 vs. California (Sept. 21) earlier than rallying to win all three video games. In whole, UCLA has led for 437:53 of 480 minutes this season (or trailed for a complete of 42:07 to this point this season).

SCORING SURGES

UCLA was tied 1-1 vs. Navy (Aug. 29) after which engineered an 8-0 run to steer 9-1 with below two minutes left within the second quarter. Tied 1-1 towards UC Davis (Aug. 30), the Bruins went on an 8-2 run to steer 9-3 at halftime. After being tied 1-1 towards UC San Diego (Aug. 30), UCLA reeled off 12 straight targets to construct a 13-1 lead with 2:00 remaining within the third quarter. In the win over California Baptist University (Sept. 5), UCLA scored the primary six targets, and doubled that to the primary 12 targets later that day towards George Washington. The Bruins scored the primary two targets of the sport and led 4-1 on the finish of the primary interval, cruising to a 16-9 win over No. 4 Fordham (Sept. 6). UCLA, which trailed for the primary time this season towards Bucknell when the Bison scored on their opening possession after getting a cease on UCLA’s first possession of the sport, received the primary interval, 5-3. The Bruins dominated the second quarter, 8-0, to construct a 13-3 lead by halftime. The Bruins scored the final two targets of the primary interval, all eight targets of the second interval, and the primary objective of the third interval to go on an 11-0 scoring run stretching throughout these three quarters vs. Bucknell (Sept. 6). In the win over No. 8 UC Irvine (Sept. 12), UCLA scored the primary 4 targets of the sport, together with pitching a shutout within the first quarter to cruise to a 13-7 win. The Bruins scored the primary six targets of the sport towards (RV) Harvard (Sept. 12) en path to a 21-10 victory. In the 19-8 win over No. 12 Pepperdine (Sept. 13), the Bruins once more scored the primary 4 targets of the sport, after which main 10-6 with 5:05 remaining within the third interval, UCLA went on an 8-0 run to blow the sport open, main 18-6 with simply 1:20 to go. The Bruins scored the primary 5 targets of the 25-6 win over Redlands (Sept. 19) and went on an 11-0 run after UR scored its first objective to steer 16-1. Trailing 4-3 (1Q – 2:38) to No. 11 UC Davis (Sept. 20), UCLA went on a 10-0 run to steer 13-4 (3Q – 5:14). UCLA additionally closed out the Stanford sport on a 6-2 run (trailed 10-7 with 2:41 to go within the third) to win 13-12. The Bruins trailed 3-0 (1Q – 2:05) to No. 3 California (Sept. 21) earlier than happening a 6-3 run to tie the sport at 6-6 (3Q – 4:32). With the sport tied at 8-8 (4Q – 7:09), the Bruins scored three straight targets to steer 11-8 (4Q – 3:08) to take management of the sport, holding on for an 11-9 win.

DODD NAMED UCLA STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AGAIN

Sophomore Ryder Dodd of UCLA Men’s Water Polo has been chosen the Student-Athlete of the Week offered by La Victoria for competitions held between Sept. 16-22. The Bruin attacker led UCLA to a 4-0 report and a three-peat title on the Overnght MPSF Invitational (Sept. 19-21), co-hosted by UCLA and USC. The Bruins improved to 14-0 total on the yr with Dodd scoring 13 targets, whereas tallying 5 assists, 5 steals, drawing 4 exclusions, successful three sprints, and making two saves. The Bruins opened with a 25-6 win over Redlands (Sept. 19) with Dodd scoring twice to go together with one help, one dash received, and making two saves (on failed 7-on-6 performs whereas carrying the goalie cap). Then within the 19-12 quarterfinal win over No. 11 UC Davis (Sept. 20), he scored 4 targets on 5 pictures and added three assists, one steal, and drew one exclusion within the win over the Aggies. In the 13-12 come-from-behind win over No. 4 Stanford (Sept. 20) within the semifinals, he scored twice and tallied one help, had three steals, drew two exclusions, and received a dash in a battle of undefeated groups. He then scored a season-high-tying 5 targets (on eight pictures) and drew one exclusion and received his solely dash within the 11-9 win over No. 3 California within the championship sport in one other battle of undefeated groups. He was credited with the eventual game-winning targets towards UC Davis and California. Dodd has scored in all 45 video games he has performed in his profession and has scored a number of targets in 43 of these contests. He secures his fourth-career UCLA student-athlete of the week award.

DODD NAMED MPSF WEST/DELFINA PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN

UCLA sophomore attacker Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS) has been named the MPSF West/Delfina Player of the Week as introduced by the league workplace on Sept. 22. Dodd led UCLA to a 4-0 report this previous week (14-0 total) and a three-peat title of the Overnght MPSF Invitational (Sept. 19-21). He tallied 13 targets, 5 assists, 5 steals, 4 drawn exclusions, three successful sprints, and two saves. In the quarterfinal win over No. 11 UC Davis, Dodd scored 4 targets and added three assists. In the come-from-behind semifinal win over No. 4 Stanford, he scored twice and tallied one help, had three steals, drew two exclusions, and received a dash. He then scored 5 targets, drew one exclusion and received his solely dash within the win over No. 3 California for the title. This is the sixth profession MPSF weekly award for Dodd.

DODD NAMED UCLA STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Sophomore Ryder Dodd of UCLA Men’s Water Polo was chosen the Student-Athlete of the Week (on Sept. 17) offered by La Victoria for competitions held between Sept. 9-15. The Bruin attacker led UCLA to a 3-0 report this previous weekend (10-0 total) with 12 targets, scoring three or extra targets in all three contests. The Bruins opened their residence slate with a 13-7 win over No. 8 UC Irvine in a battle of undefeated groups on Friday, Sept.12. Dodd scored a team-high-tying hat trick and likewise drew three exclusions and one penalty towards the Anteaters. Later that day, UCLA posted a 21-5 win over (RV) Harvard with Dodd scoring a season-high 5 targets and led all scorers with six factors, including one help. He additionally had one steal and drew one exclusion towards the Crimson. He led the Bruins in scoring with seven factors on a game-high-tying 4 targets and three assists within the 19-8 win over No. 12 Pepperdine. He additionally drew one exclusion and had a career-high six steals towards the Waves. He has scored in all 41 video games he has performed in his profession and has scored a number of targets in 39 of these contests. Dodd secures his third-career UCLA student-athlete of the week award.

DODD NAMED MPSF WEST/DELFINA PLAYER OF THE WEEK

UCLA sophomore attacker Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS) has been named the MPSF West/Delfina Player of the Week as introduced by the league workplace on Sept. 8. Dodd led UCLA to a 4-0 report this previous week (7-0 total) on the Princeton Invitational (Sept. 5- 6) with 10 targets (14 pictures), three steals, three assists, two drawn exclusions, one discipline block, and one save. He scored a game-high 4 targets towards No. 14 California Baptist University, to go together with two steals, one help, and one save. He had a game-high-tying three targets in a win over No. 19 George Washington, and added two assists and a discipline block. Dodd then had two targets, drew two exclusions, and had one steal in a win over No. 4 Fordham. He completed with one objective on his solely shot in restricted motion within the win over Bucknell. This is the fifth profession MPSF weekly award for Dodd.

BRINKEMA NAMED UCLA STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Sophomore Bode Brinkema of UCLA Men’s Water Polo has been chosen the Student-Athlete of the Week offered by La Victoria for competitions held between Aug. 26-Sept. 1. Brinkema tied for the crew lead in scoring this previous week with seven targets, main top-ranked UCLA to a trio of double-digit wins over nationally-ranked groups to open the season at 3-0. The Bruins started the week with a 20-8 win over No. 20 Navy with Brinkema scoring a career-high 4 targets, whereas registering two steals, one help, and drawing one exclusion. The 12-goal margin of victory was the second-most within the sequence historical past behind a 13-goal margin in 1996 and once more in 2019. Brinkema then scored two targets and had two steals, one help, and one discipline block in a 16-6 win over No. 14 UC Davis. The 10-goal margin of victory was probably the most towards the Aggies because the undefeated season of 2015. He completed the weekend with one objective, three assists, and three steals in an 18-2 win at No. 12 UC San Diego. The 16-goal margin of victory towards the Tritons was the third-largest in sequence historical past and probably the most since a 24-1 win in 1976. The sophomore secures his second-career UCLA student-athlete of the week award.

UCLA PICKED TO WIN THE MPSF

Defending NCAA Champion UCLA collected 99 factors and 9 first-place votes in topping the 2025 MPSF Men’s Water Polo Western Division preseason coaches’ ballot. The Bruins return 21 gamers from final yr, together with ACWPC National Player of the Year and MPSF Player and Newcomer of the Year Ryder Dodd, who broke each the convention and UCLA freshman single-season scoring report in 2024 with 102 targets. Also again for UCLA are All-Americans Chase Dodd (26 targets), Peter Castillo (31 targets, 64 earned exclusions), and Frederico Jucá Carsalade (25 targets, 38 assists).

 

RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
For the second straight yr, the Bruins return 4 of the 5 All-Americans from the prior season. Sophomore attacker Ryder Dodd is again from his record-shattering season the place he set the MPSF and UCLA freshman single-season scoring report with 102 targets. He was a First-Team All-American, as was his brother, redshirt senior attacker Chase Dodd (26 targets, 33 assists). Sophomore utility Peter Castillo was a Third-Team All-American a yr in the past (31 targets, 64 earned exclusions). The different All-American the Bruins return in 2025 is Honorable Mention choice and redshirt junior attacker, Frederico Jucá Carsalade (25 targets, 38 assists). Junior utility Ben Liechty, the 2024 MPSF Newcomer of the Year, additionally qualifies because the Bruins’ fifth returning All-American as he was an Honorable Mention choice in 2023. UCLA misplaced the taking part in providers of All-American, Nico Tierney (Honorable Mention, 41 targets), however added him to the Bruins’ workers as an assistant coach for the 2025 season.

RETURNING ALL-MPSF PLAYERS

Last yr, UCLA had a league-best and school-record-tying 9 gamers earn 2024 Delfina All-MPSF West accolades, however solely 5 of them return, highlighted by MPSF Player and Newcomer of the Year, Ryder Dodd. He additionally received the Peter J. Cutino Award and was named the ACWPC National Player of the Year in 2025. All 5 All-League performers returning have been additionally listed within the returning All-American observe above. In addition to shedding Nico Tierney (Honorable Mention All-MPSF) from a yr in the past, the Bruins additionally misplaced the providers of First-Team attacker Makoto Kenney (15 targets, 45 assists), Honorable Mention goalkeeper Garret Griggs (25 begins, 23-2 report, 173 saves, 9.12 targets towards common), and Honorable Mention center-defender Aaron Voggenthaler (24 targets). The Bruins return a sixth All-MPSF contributor in junior heart Marcell Szécsi (Honorable Mention decide in 2023, 13 targets in 2024).

SUPER SENIORS

The Bruins return 5 seniors in 2025 that each one made big contributions a yr in the past. Joining redshirt senior Chase Dodd is fellow redshirt seniors attacker Trey Doten (11 targets), and heart Eli Liechty (24 targets, 48 earned exclusions). UCLA additionally regains the providers of senior utility Gray Carson (14 targets) and attacker Noah Rowe (six targets, 21 assists). Together this class has an total report of 94-14 (.870), which incorporates going a mixed 52-5 (.912) over the past two seasons.

MORE NOTABLE RETURNEES

Flexing its very good depth, there are six extra Bruins looking for to have elevated roles this season, beginning with redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Nate Tauscher. Tauscher was the back-up goalie final yr however got here up large when his quantity was referred to as. He solely made three begins on the yr (3-0), however two of them got here on the NCAA Tournament (semifinals and finals). This group additionally consists of junior attacker Wade Sherlock (21 targets, 35 assists), redshirt junior utility Ben Larsen (19 targets), redshirt junior attacker Vinnie Merk (three targets), redshirt sophomore defender Max Matthews (six targets, additionally scored the game-winning objective on the buzzer for the Gold crew in a 15-14 win over the Blue squad within the 2025 preseason), and sophomore utility Bode Brinkema (16 targets, 23 assists, 22 steals).

REDSHIRTS AND FRESH FACES

Looking to make a giant splash this season are 5 redshirt freshmen and 5 true freshmen which have arrived in Westwood for the 2025 marketing campaign. The redshirt freshmen embody attacker Alex Heenan (Harvard-Westlake School), goalkeeper Joey Kent (JSerra Catholic HS), attacker Andrew Spencer (Sacred Heart Prep), goalkeeper Nick Tovani (San Ramon Valley HS), and heart defender Harry Tucker (Perth, Australia). The 5 freshmen seeking to make an instantaneous affect embody 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 thirteenth NCAA Championship in males’s water polo with an 11-8 win over USC on Dec. 8, 2024, at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center. The win additionally marked the fifth NCAA Championship for UCLA Head Coach Adam Wright whereas in command of the Men’s Water Polo crew, with all 5 titles coming towards USC. It is Wright’s ninth NCAA title total, as he additionally received two as a participant at UCLA (1999 and 2000), one as the pinnacle coach of the ladies’s program (2024), and yet another as an assistant coach with the ladies’s crew in 2009. UCLA had a complete of seven gamers rating within the contest, paced by two targets every from freshman Ryder Dodd, redshirt junior Chase Dodd, and graduate college students Nico Tierney and Jack Larsen. Graduate pupil Makoto Kenney added a game-high three assists. Redshirt freshman Nate Tauscher made simply his third begin of his younger profession, going the gap whereas recording 10 saves, three steals, and one help whereas 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 seventeenth season as UCLA’s head males’s water polo coach in 2025 with an total report of 385-68 (.850) and an MPSF mark of 72-25 (.742). His groups earned good APR (Academic Progress Rate) scores of 1,000 in 2014, 2015 and 2016 whereas successful the college’s 112th, 113th and 114th NCAA Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Wright added the fourth NCAA Championship to his resume as the lads’s head coach in 2020 (Mar. 21, 2021) and a fourth good APR rating in 2021. On July 20, 2017, then-UCLA Director of Athletics, Dan Guerrero, introduced that Wright would information each the UCLA males’s and girls’s water polo groups. 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, introduced that Wright had signed a brand new six-year contract, beginning in July of 2022, because the Head Coach for each of the Bruins’ Men’s and Women’s Water Polo packages. 

 

RECAPPING 2024

Overall Record: 26-2 | Final Ranking: 1st | NCAA Finish: 1st | MPSF Tournament Finish: 2nd

The UCLA Bruins made their 39^th look within the NCAA Championship in 2024, successful this system’s thirteenth NCAA title with a nation’s greatest 26-2 (.929) report. The Bruins additionally posted the very best report in MPSF play with a 5-1 mark. The Bruins opened the NCAA Championship with a 22-6 win over No. 20 Salem within the First Round after which posted a 17-14 win at No. 4 Stanford within the NCAA Semifinals. Top-seeded UCLA then defeated No. 2 USC, 11-8, within the title match. UCLA positioned an MPSF-high 9 gamers on the All-MPSF groups in 2024, together with Ryder Dodd turning into the primary participant in league historical past to be named the Player and Newcomer of the Year in the identical season. Additionally, Adam Wright was named MPSF Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his profession (2011, 2017, 2023, 2024).

Other Notes:

• UCLA represented as Team USA on the 2025 FISU World University Games and captured a silver medal. Ryder Dodd, Bode Brinkema, Ben Liechty, and Peter Castillo have been on the U20 World Championship roster for Team USA that received a silver medal on the World Aquatics U20 World Championships, the best end 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

  1. Undefeated 13-0 season towards a dozen groups consisting of a number of Olympic-level athletes.

• Pacific Cup Champion

  1. Undefeated in three video games with eight-goal common margin of victory.

• Five Players in U20 World Championship

  1. Bode Brinkema, Peter Castillo, Ben Liechty and Ryder Dodd mixed for over 50% of Team USA’s targets (53/104) in its highest end ever incomes silver. Ryder Dodd was named event MVP.
  2. Harry Tucker completed fourth in scoring with 10 targets for Australia.

• World University Games

  1. UCLA (minus Ryder Dodd, Chasee Dodd, Ben Liechty, Harry Tucker, and Frederico Jucá Carsalade), represented as Team USA and earned a silver medal (tied for its highest end since 1985).

• Three Active Players on World Aquatics Championship Roster

  1. Ben Liechty, Chase Dodd and Ryder Dodd made up 20% of the Team USA roster that completed eighth.

POLLING THE BRUINS
UCLA stays regular at No. 1 within the CWPA National Men’s Varsity Top 20 Poll (100 factors), launched on Oct. 1.