UCLA Men's Water Polo Looks To Defend National Title Against Top-Seeded Southern Cal Today
Bruins. Trojans. For a National Championship. That's how it should be.
The Bruins will have the opportunity to defend last season’s national championship when they jump into the pool this afternoon against crosstown rival Southern Cal at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center.
It has been another outstanding season for the UCLA Men’s Water Polo team. The Bruins have won 26 of 28 games, with their first loss coming at home against the Trojans on October 18 and they didn’t lose again until they played Southern Cal in the MPSF Championship Game. They did beat the Trojans in the second meeting between the teams when they visited Southern Cal on November 15.
Despite losing only twice during the season, the Bruins were seeded secondin the NCAA Tournament. UCLA defeated the Princeton Tigers in the First Round, 15-11, on Friday. Then, they topped Stanford, 9-7, yesterday in the Semifinals.
Last Time Out
The Bruins used three fourth quarter goals to come from behind and defeat the Cardinal, 9-7.
Just over a minute into the game, Ryder Dodd put UCLA on the board first. Stanford tied it up just 25 seconds later on a power play goal. Not to be outdone, Ben Larsen added a power play goal for the Bruins and UCLA had a 2-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Stanford tied it up with 6:18 left in the half, but the Bruins responded with a pair of goals by Wade Sherlock and Ben Liechty. The Cardinal cut UCLA’s lead to 4-3 with 1:33 left in the half, and that’s how the first half ended.
Junior Frederico Jucá Carsalade scored the first goal of the second half for the Bruins on a penalty shot, but Stanford scored the next three to take a 6-5 lead. Peter Casillo’s power play goal tied the game back up with 2:35 left in the third, but Ryan Ohl got the Cardinal a go-ahead goal with just over a minute to go. As a result, the teams went into the final quarter with Stanford ahead, 7-6.
Dodd got the Bruins an equalizer with the first goal of the fourth quarter and the game remained tied until a power play goal by Larsen put the Bruins up 8-7 with 1:50 left in the game. With 29 seconds left, Stanford called a timeout and pulled their goalie to set up a 7-on-6. Stanford took a shot, which hit the crossbar and was recovered by Bruin goalie Nate Tauscher with about 17 seconds left. UCLA recovered the ball and, as time ran out, Carsalade scored on an empty netter to give the Bruins a 9-7 win.
Southern Cal Trojans
Meanwhile, Southern Cal defeated Concordia University Irving on Friday, 16-6. The Trojans then beat Fordham in a rematch of last year’s Semifinal yesterday, 16-7, to set up today’s championship game between the crosstown rivals.
Here’s how to watch today’s National Championship Game:
NCAA Men’s Water Polo National Championship Game
Opponents: #2 seed UCLA Bruins (26-2) vs. #1 seed Southern Cal Trojans (23-3)
Game Time: 3:00 pm PT, Sunday, December 7, 2025
Where: Avery Aquatics Center, Stanford, CA
Live TV/Audio: ESPNU
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
Trophy Presentation: ESPN+ (subscription req’d)
Live Stats: 6-8Sports.com
Go Bruins!!! Beat $c!!! Bring home NC #125!!!
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GOAL! Bru-wins! 125 is coming home!
GOAL! Tie game!