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vs. California Lutheran
9/5/2025 | 4:20 PM
Sep. 05 (Fri) / 4:20 PM
vs. California Lutheran
LA JOLLA, Calif. — For the third-straight day the 12th-ranked UC San Diego men’s water polo team split a pair of games Sunday to finish its own Triton Invitational with an even 3-3 record.
The Tritons had no problem getting the W in their opener, downing George Washington 19-12. Their second and final game of the day, and the tournament, was a hard-fought loss against seventh-ranked Pepperdine by a score of 10-9.
AGAINST GEORGE WASHINGTON
The Tritons showcased a powerful offensive performance, particularly in the second quarter, where they scored seven goals to take control of the game.
Lucas Romaguera led UC San Diego with four goals, providing critical scoring that helped his team build a significant lead. Bennett Axline was also instrumental, contributing three goals, while Felipe Ferreira, Brendon Fezzey, and Christian Hammonds each added multiple goals to solidify the victory.
George Washington’s Adonis Vlassis had a standout performance despite the loss, netting five goals for the Revolutionaries. Kai De Orbeta supported him with two goals, while other contributors included Yam Kabakov, Alec Posluszny, Griffin Yamaoka, David Sambolin, and Andrea Forno, who each found the back of the net.
The scoring was heavily weighted in favor of UC San Diego, especially in the early and middle periods, where it capitalized on its opportunities. George Washington struggled to keep pace, particularly in the second period, where they were outscored 7-2, ultimately leading to its defeat.
UCSD goalie Alex Hegeman recorded seven saves.
AGAINST PEPPERDINE
In a tightly contested match, seventh-ranked Pepperdine showcased a strong offense, led by Owen Tift and Cade Anderton, who each scored two goals, contributing significantly to their team’s edge.
The first period saw an intense back-and-forth, with Pepperdine scoring four goals to UCSD’s three. Tift netted two of his goals in this quarter, setting the tone for the Waves’ offensive strategy. As the game progressed, both teams continued to exchange leads, with UCSD’s Lucas Romaguera also shining, netting three goals throughout the match.
By halftime, Pepperdine held a slim 6-4 lead, thanks to goals from Sandor Gal and Cade Anderton. However, UC San Diego was quick to respond, narrowing the gap in the third quarter as they outscored Pepperdine 3-2, closing the score to 8-7 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter was equally thrilling, with both teams trading goals. Romaguera scored his last goal of the match, but Pepperdine’s Barnuevo and Carcarey sealed the victory with their goals, ensuring a narrow win. Max Smirnov of Pepperdine stood out defensively, recording 10 saves, while UCSD’s Alex Hegeman managed three saves in goal.
MATT USTASZEWSKI INTERVIEW
TRITON TIDBITS
• Nine Tritons made their career debuts during the Triton Invitational – Razvan Alistar, Liam Amburgey, Kyson Becker, Jackson Boettner, Dusan Djordjevic, Cole Harman, Alex Hegeman, Winston Loh, and Davidka Skov.
• Lucas Romaguera and Mark Laurlund paced the Tritons offensively with 14 points each over the six games. Romaguera tallied 10 goals and four assists while Laurlund racked up five goals to go along with nine assists.
• Christian Hammonds had 13 points over the weekend, while Eamon Hennessey had 11 and Felipe Ferreira had 10.
• Playing almost every minute in goal, Alex Hegeman made 34 saves while adding six steals.
• During the event, the Tritons had wins over La Verne, Occidental, and George Washington and losses against No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 USC, and No. 7 Pepperdine.
• Other Big West teams competing in La Jolla included Long Beach State (5-1), UC Davis (3-1), and UC Santa Barbara (3-3).
UP NEXT
UC San Diego hits the road for the first time this season next week to compete at the Inland Empire Classic. The Tritons take on host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps as well as California Lutheran on Friday, Sept. 5.
Season and single game tickets are available for purchase online by visiting the link HERE or by calling (858) 534-1430. For more ticket information, e-mail the box office at triton-tix@ucsd.edu.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.