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Sunday closed a major weekend of men’s college water polo with Stanford completing one of the strongest two-day road trips of the season. One day after handing No. 1 UCLA its first loss, the No. 2 Cardinal beat No. 3 USC 16-12. UCLA responded by holding off No. 4 Cal, while No. 9 Princeton and No. 15 Navy added conference victories.

No. 2 Stanford 16, No. 3 USC 12

Stanford completed a huge Los Angeles weekend by beating USC one day after taking down No. 1 UCLA.

The Cardinal couldn’t have started much better defensively. Stanford shut USC out in the first quarter and built a 6-0 lead before the Trojans finally scored with 6:18 remaining in the second.

USC didn’t fold. The Trojans erupted for seven second-quarter goals and cut Stanford’s advantage to 9-7 at halftime. But Stanford absorbed the run, pushed the lead back to 14-11 by the end of the third and scored the first two goals of the fourth to regain complete control.

Stanford goals: James Rozolis-Hill 3, Ben Forer 3, Alex Gheorghe 2, Connor Ohl 2, Konstantinos Mathiopoulos 2, Will Schneider 2, Ryan Ohl 1, Dimitrios Chatzis 1.

Stanford assists: Ben Forer had a verified assist. Stanford’s published recap does not provide a complete individual assist table, so additional assists are not being assigned.
Stanford’s published recap also does not list complete goalkeeper save totals, so none are being inferred.

The same applies to USC’s complete individual goals, assists and goalkeeper saves: USC’s Sunday recap/box-score data was not fully accessible through the official sources during this review, so I’m not reconstructing statistics from secondary sites.

The difference: the opening eight minutes. Stanford forced USC to spend the rest of the afternoon chasing a six-goal deficit. The Trojans made an impressive second-quarter run, but against a team as balanced as Stanford, digging out of 6-0 takes a tremendous amount of energy.

Stanford finished the weekend 2-0 against No. 1 UCLA and No. 3 USC, scoring 35 goals against the two Los Angeles powers.

No. 1 UCLA 13, No. 4 Cal 11

This was much closer than a typical 1-vs.-4 matchup.

UCLA led 3-2 after the first, but Cal completely shut the Bruins out in the second and carried a 4-3 lead into halftime.

UCLA finally found its offense in the third. The Bruins scored six times—including two five-meter penalties—to take a 9-7 lead.

Cal answered immediately.

Ilias Angelopoulos scored twice and Beso Akhvlediani added another as the Bears opened the fourth on a 3-0 run, turning a 9-7 deficit into a 10-9 lead.

Then came the turning point.

UCLA drew consecutive five-meter penalties. Ryder Dodd converted both, putting the Bruins back ahead 11-10. Peter Castillo followed with a close-range finish for the insurance goal before Dodd eventually finished the game into an empty net.

UCLA
Goals: Ryder Dodd 5; Frederico Jucá Carsalade 2; Peter Castillo 2; Luka Gladović 2; Max Matthews 1; Jackson Harlan 1.
Assists: Ryder Dodd 3; Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1; Luka Gladović 1; Bode Brinkema 1; Ben Liechty 1. UCLA was officially credited with 8 team assists.
Goalkeeper: Nate Tauscher — 8 saves, 4 steals.
Dodd finished with 5 goals and 3 assists for eight points, producing the biggest offensive performance of the game.

Cal
Goals: Ilias Angelopoulos 4; Tomas Perrone 3; Beso Akhvlediani 2; Alex Oprea 1; Patrik Kolak 1.
Assists: Beso Akhvlediani 3; Mason Netzer 2; Tomas Perrone 1; Patrik Kolak 1; Brennan Fuchslin 1; Loui Schuler 1.
Goalkeeper: Aran Pina — 9 saves, 2 steals.
Akhvlediani finished with 2 goals and 3 assists, while Angelopoulos scored four on six shots and drew three exclusions.

Cal was charged with 20 exclusions compared with UCLA’s 12.

UCLA scored five extra-man goals and went 4-for-4 from five meters. Cal scored five extra-man goals and converted its lone penalty.
Those penalties were enormous. Two of UCLA’s four five-meter conversions came on consecutive fourth-quarter possessions after Cal had taken a 10-9 lead.

The difference: UCLA’s ability to generate five-meter opportunities. Cal did enough defensively to shut UCLA out for an entire quarter and regained the lead late, but four converted penalties gave the Bruins a scoring source that Cal couldn’t match.

No. 9 Princeton 16, No. 19 Brown 8
Brown actually landed the first punch.
Mac Berry opened the scoring, and after Princeton went ahead 2-1, Robert Norell tied it before Roland Csendes put Brown back in front 3-2.

Then Princeton took over.

The Tigers scored six more before halftime, with Brown getting only a late Jaxson Tierney goal during the stretch. Princeton carried an 8-4 lead into halftime and scored the first three goals of the second half to effectively put the game away.

Princeton
Goals: Tas Palcza 4; Ádám Peocz 3; Gavin Appeldorn 2; Otto Stothart 2; Enrique Nuño 1; Taylor Bell 1; Tibi Cojocariu 1.
Princeton’s official recap lists those scorers but does not publish a complete individual assist table, so assists are not being inferred.
Goalkeeper: Kristóf Kovács — 15 saves.
That is the number that jumps off the page. Kovács gave Princeton 15 saves in an eight-goal ranked victory.

Brown
Goals: Robert Norell 2; Mac Berry 1; Roland Csendes 1; Jaxson Tierney 1; Filip Josipovic 1; Colton Bell 1; Ramzi Megali 1.
Brown’s official recap does not provide complete individual assist totals.

Goalkeepers: Ryan Miele started; Will Corr took over in the second half. Brown’s official recap does not publish their individual save totals, so none are being assigned.

The difference: Princeton’s defensive response. Brown got exactly the start it wanted and twice held a lead. Once Princeton settled in defensively, however, Brown stopped getting enough clean finishes. Kovács’ 15 saves allowed the Tigers to turn defensive possessions into sustained momentum at the other end.

Princeton improved to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in NWPC play.

No. 15 Navy 15, Bucknell 8
This was much closer through three quarters than the final score suggests.

Navy led only 2-1 after the first and 6-3 at halftime. The Midshipmen stretched the advantage to 10-6 in the third, but Bucknell continued answering and pulled within 10-8 with 11 seconds remaining.

That became the game’s biggest sequence.
Navy immediately went the length of the pool and scored with one second remaining in the third, restoring an 11-8 advantage.

Bucknell never scored again.

Navy shut the Bison out 4-0 in the fourth quarter and scored the final five goals of the game.

Navy
Goals: Quinn Bartlett 4; Aiden Day 3; Declan Bartlett 3; Billy Zech 2; Maximus Arnold 1; Kiefer Black 1; James Mulvey 1.
Navy’s official recap does not publish a complete individual assist table, so assists are not being guessed.
Goalkeeper: Ryan Munch — 9 saves.

Bucknell
Jack Dillane scored Bucknell’s first goal. Tyler Hedblad and Hudson Tweed scored during the second quarter, while Jovan Udovicic scored twice in the third as Bucknell continued challenging Navy.

Bucknell’s official game story does not publish a complete individual goals-and-assists table or goalkeeper save total in the available recap, so incomplete totals are not being presented as full statistics.

Navy also converted multiple five-meter opportunities, including penalties by Aiden Day during key stretches.

The difference: the final second of the third quarter.

At 10-8, Bucknell had momentum and was heading into the fourth only two goals down. Navy’s immediate answer with one second remaining changed the emotional complexion of the game. The Midshipmen then shut Bucknell out for the final eight minutes and scored four more.

That’s a veteran response from a ranked team on the road.

Biggest Takeaways

Stanford owned the weekend. There isn’t a stronger two-game résumé in the country right now than beating No. 1 UCLA 19-15 and No. 3 USC 16-12 on consecutive days in Los Angeles. Stanford scored 35 goals against two of the country’s elite programs and showed two different ways to win—outlasting UCLA in a shootout and jumping USC 6-0 before managing the game from in front.

The next No. 1 vote just became fascinating. UCLA entered the weekend unanimously No. 1 and remains 15-1, but Stanford now owns the head-to-head result and followed it immediately with another top-three road win.

UCLA’s response mattered. Twenty-four hours after its first loss, UCLA found itself down to Cal at halftime and again at 10-9 late in the fourth. The Bruins responded instead of letting Saturday’s loss carry into Sunday. Ryder Dodd’s 5-goal, 3-assist performance was central to it.

Cal is much closer to the top three than its 9-4 record suggests. The Bears lost 15-14 to USC in sudden death Saturday and were leading UCLA 10-9 late Sunday. Aran Pina made 24 saves across the two games, and Cal has now repeatedly pushed the nation’s best teams deep into fourth quarters.

Kristóf Kovács had Sunday’s biggest goalkeeper performance. Fifteen saves while holding No. 19 Brown to eight goals gave Princeton exactly the kind of back-end performance that allows a good team to create separation.

Navy continues to move in the right direction. The Midshipmen improved to 12-2 and 3-0 in MAWPC play, and their 5-0 closing run against Bucknell showed an ability to finish after being pushed for three quarters.

Sunday reinforced what Saturday started: Stanford made the biggest national statement of the weekend, UCLA responded, Princeton continues to look legitimate, and Navy keeps building.

Official sources: CWPA September 30 Top 20⁠ · Stanford–USC official recap⁠ · UCLA–Cal official recap⁠ · UCLA–Cal complete Cal box score⁠ · Princeton–Brown official recap⁠ · Brown's Princeton recap⁠ · Navy–Bucknell official Navy recap⁠ · Bucknell's Navy recap⁠

Saturday, October 3 delivered one of the strongest men’s college water polo slates of the season. No. 2 Stanford handed No. 1 UCLA its first loss, No. 3 USC survived No. 4 Cal in sudden death, and No. 13 UC Santa Barbara picked up two ranked wins in San Jose.

No. 2 Stanford 19, No. 1 UCLA 15
Eight ties. A one-goal Stanford lead after each of the first three quarters. Then the Cardinal finally broke the game open with a seven-goal fourth.

UCLA pulled within 13-12 on Ryder Dodd’s fourth goal with 7:08 remaining, but Stanford created the separation UCLA had prevented all afternoon and handed the Bruins their first loss of the season.

Stanford: Alex Gheorghe 3 goals, Guido Leonardi 3, James Rozolis-Hill 3, Ben Forer 2, Gor Mnatsakanian 2, Connor Ohl 2, Jack West 2, Zsombor Balogh 1 and Dimitrios Chatzis 1. Bernardo Herzer made 9 saves.

UCLA: Ryder Dodd produced 4 goals and 5 assists, Ben Liechty had 1 goal and 3 assists, while Danilo Dragović, Frederico Jucá Carsalade, Max Matthews and Chase McFarland scored twice each. Ben Larsen and Wade Sherlock added one goal apiece. Nate Tauscher made 5 saves.

UCLA actually had the better 6-on-5 numbers, converting 6-of-10 compared with Stanford’s 2-of-6. Stanford countered by going a perfect 4-for-4 from five meters, while UCLA was 2-for-2.

The difference: Stanford didn’t need to dominate the extra-man game because it consistently produced goals elsewhere. Seven fourth-quarter goals against the nation’s No. 1 team was the decisive stretch. (UCLA Bruins)

No. 3 USC 15, No. 4 Cal 14 — Sudden Death

This was essentially a one-possession game for 40 minutes.

USC led 7-6 at halftime before Cal tied it 10-10 through three. The Bears went ahead 12-11 late in the fourth, but Luke Nelson converted an extra-man opportunity with less than a second remaining to force overtime. After two overtime periods still couldn’t settle it, Strahinja Krstic scored the sudden-death winner with 56 seconds remaining.

USC: Robert López Duart 4 goals; Luke Nelson 3 goals, 1 assist; Gavin Conant 2 goals; Apostolos Georgaras 2 goals, 2 assists; Strahinja Krstic 2 goals, 2 assists; Efe Naipoglu 2 goals, 2 assists. Ante Jerkovic led the distribution with 4 assists. USC totaled 15 goals and 14 assists. Charles Mills was huge with 15 saves, including two penalty stops.

Cal: Beso Akhvlediani 4 goals, 2 assists; Tomas Perrone 2 goals, 2 assists; Dominic Brown 2 goals, 1 assist; Ilias Angelopoulos 2 goals; Alex Oprea 2 goals and 3 assists; Amir Shafrir 1 goal; Patrik Kolak 1 goal. Cal totaled 14 goals and 12 assists. Aran Pina matched Mills with 15 saves.
Cal was charged with 17 exclusions and USC 14. The teams combined for 84 shots and 29 goals.

The difference: goalkeeper play kept both teams alive, but USC executed the two biggest possessions of the game—Nelson’s last-second regulation equalizer and Krstic’s sudden-death finish. USC has now beaten Cal twice this season. (USC Athletics)

No. 13 UC Santa Barbara 13, No. 9 San Jose State 12 — OT

UCSB built a 6-3 halftime lead before San Jose State completely changed the game in the second half. The Spartans eventually went ahead 10-9, and after UCSB regained an 11-10 advantage, Samu Biros scored with three seconds remaining to force overtime.

Charlie Johnson then scored both of UCSB’s overtime goals, including the winner with 35 seconds left.

UCSB: Luigi Canepa was outstanding with 5 goals and 2 assists. Charlie Johnson scored 4; Finn Genc had 2 goals and 3 assists; Sloan Brown and Dash D’Ambrosia each recorded 1 goal and 2 assists. UCSB finished with 13 goals and 9 assists. Wyatt Pieretti made 13 saves.

San Jose State: Sam Keightley produced 5 goals and 3 assists; Samu Biros scored 4; Aron Sárfalvi had 1 goal and 2 assists; Giancarlo Marquez and Aidan Johnson scored once each. Mitchell Keightley added 3 assists and Zalan Hegedus two. SJSU finished with 12 goals and 11 assists. Alexey Poletaev made 7 saves and Stellan Karkazis added 3, giving the Spartans 10.

UCSB had 12 exclusions and San Jose State 11.

The difference: Pieretti gave UCSB the goalkeeper performance it needed, while Canepa and Johnson supplied nine of the Gauchos’ 13 goals. Most impressive was UCSB’s response after losing the lead and then surrendering a tying goal with three seconds remaining. They reset and won the game in overtime. (University of California, Santa Barbara)

No. 13 UC Santa Barbara 14, No. 20 Saint Mary’s 8

UCSB completed its ranked sweep by jumping Saint Mary’s 4-0, weathering the Gaels’ second-quarter response and then winning the third quarter 5-1 to put the game away.

UCSB: Landon Lassahn 3 goals; Charlie Johnson and Camren Simoncelli 2 each; Kai Ross, Sloan Brown, Luigi Canepa, Finn Genc, Tyler Roller, Noah Loo and Hayden Tully one apiece. Ross, Canepa, Genc, Roller and Loo each recorded assists as UCSB finished with 14 goals and 6 assists. Wyatt Pieretti made 6 saves, Haakon Lacy 1 and Finn Byrne 1 for 8 total saves.

Saint Mary’s: Leo Hachem 3 goals; Donovan Swann 2; Nick Valente 2 goals and 1 assist; Mason Black 1. Ferran De Witt, Kyle Stilinovich and Stryder Stelck also recorded assists, giving Saint Mary’s 8 goals and 4 assists. Federico Castrucci made 7 saves; Griffin Lagsdin played the fourth.

Saint Mary’s had 10 exclusions to UCSB’s 13. UCSB converted two extra-man goals and three penalties; Saint Mary’s scored once on the extra man and once from five meters.

The difference: the third quarter. Saint Mary’s had fought back into the game, but UCSB’s 5-1 response eliminated the possibility of another tight finish. (University of California, Santa Barbara)

No. 7 Long Beach State 16, No. 20 Concordia Irvine 12

This was far more competitive than the final margin.

The teams were tied 7-7 at halftime, and Concordia came back again to make it 11-11 in the fourth. Then Gabi Acosta took over. Acosta scored four times in the final period, including consecutive goals that restored a 13-11 Long Beach lead.

Marc Frigola Navarro led Long Beach with 5 goals, Federico Gulisano scored 3 and Acosta had 4—all four coming in the fourth quarter. Long Beach also got an important third-quarter 6-on-5 goal from Zalán Nagy and another power-play conversion from Sam Abbott.

Long Beach goalkeeper Sergi Ramon produced three consecutive saves during a key third-quarter stretch. The official published recap available for this check does not provide a complete individual assist or goalkeeper-save breakdown for both teams, so those numbers are not being inferred.

The difference: closing ability. Concordia did enough to get a ranked road-neutral game back to 11-11. Long Beach then put the ball in the hands of its experienced attackers, and Acosta delivered four fourth-quarter goals. (Long Beach State University Athletics)

No. 7 Long Beach State 20, Redlands 8
DIVISION III MATCHUP — Redlands entered ranked No. 2 in Division III

Long Beach controlled this one from the opening quarter, leading 6-2 after eight minutes and 10-4 at halftime.

Marc Frigola Navarro scored 5 goals, Artur Diaz 4 and Corbin Stanley scored twice as 11 different Long Beach players scored. Long Beach finished with 20 goals, 10 assists and 13 steals.

Redlands scored 8 goals on 17 shots and recorded 2 assists. The official Long Beach recap does not provide a complete Redlands individual scoring/goalkeeper breakdown, so those numbers are not being guessed.

Long Beach drew 18 Redlands exclusions while being excluded 10 times itself.

The difference: depth and pressure. Long Beach generated 20 goals on only 28 shots and continued producing regardless of lineup combinations. (Long Beach State University Athletics)

No. 14 LMU 13, No. 11 Pepperdine 10

LMU won an important WCC opener by taking control immediately after halftime.

The Lions led 7-6 at the break before scoring the first three goals of the third quarter. That run became the separation Pepperdine couldn’t erase.

LMU: Nick Leung 3 goals, 1 assist; Gabrijel Burburan 3 goals; Caden Poulleau 2 goals, 2 assists; Nico Furneaux 2 goals; Mateo Obando 1 goal, 1 assist; Bence Barics and Soren Martin one goal each. Roman Saroyan distributed 3 assists, Eduardo Carraresi 2, Luka Dimic 1 and goalkeeper Pablo De Souza 1. LMU totaled 13 goals and 11 assists. De Souza made 9 saves.

Pepperdine: Hunter Danko 3 goals, 1 assist; Erik Ionescu 3 goals; Charles Warmington 2 goals, 2 assists; Cade Anderton and Brian Barnuevo one goal each. Max Burstein, Alex Piccin, Jackson Benners and Tyce di Pretoro added one assist each. Pepperdine totaled 10 goals and 7 assists. Max Smirnov made 13 saves.

LMU was charged with 10 exclusions to Pepperdine’s four.

The difference: LMU’s 4-1 third quarter. Pepperdine got an excellent 13-save performance from Smirnov, but LMU generated 36 shots, 11 assists and 10 steals and had too many different ways to create offense. (Loyola Marymount University Athletics)

No. 9 Princeton 15, Harvard 8

Harvard stayed within 7-5 at halftime before Princeton broke the game open after the break and carried an 11-6 advantage into the fourth.
Princeton: Otto Stothart 4 goals, Enrique Nuño 3, Tibi Cojocariu 2, Bence Kovács 2, with Ádám Peocz, Taylor Bell, Banos, Weichert and Sennett also scoring according to Princeton’s published recap. Kristóf Kovács made 12 saves.

Princeton’s official recap does not publish assists or Harvard’s complete individual offensive and goalkeeper statistics, so those figures are not being reconstructed from secondary sources.

The difference: defense after halftime. Princeton turned a competitive game into a comfortable win by controlling the third quarter, with Kovács’ 12-save performance anchoring the back end. (Princeton University Athletics)

No. 9 Princeton 20, MIT 14
MIT — Division III

Princeton completed its doubleheader sweep with 20 goals.

Otto Stothart scored 4, Tibi Cojocariu, Ádám Peocz and Henry Swart each scored 3, Taylor Bell scored twice, and LeSieur, Enrique Nuño, Andrew Tu, Joseph Hwang and Gavin Appeldorn added one each.

Princeton used two goalkeepers and got an extraordinary combined total: Pierre du Plessis 16 saves and Gus von Metzsch 9 saves.

The official Princeton recap does not provide assists or MIT’s complete individual scoring/goalkeeper statistics, so those figures remain unreported.

The difference: offensive depth. Princeton had four players score at least three and reached 20 despite MIT producing 14 of its own. (Princeton University Athletics)

No. 15 Navy 20, Mercyhurst 4

After a 1-1 start, Navy scored 12 unanswered goals and led 13-1 at halftime.

Navy: Aiden Berry, Declan Murphy and Hudson Parks each scored 3; JB Bergstedt, Connor Cashman and Austin Kahn scored twice; Maximus Arnold, Ryan Munch, Jack Pointner, Jack Rodoni and Erwin also scored as 11 Midshipmen found the net.

The official Navy recap does not publish complete assist totals or goalkeeper saves for either team, so those numbers are not being estimated.

The difference: Navy’s defensive pressure completely removed Mercyhurst from the game after the opening five-meter goal. The 12-0 run also allowed Navy to expand its rotation without losing control. (Naval Academy Athletics)

No. 19 Brown 16, LIU 10

LIU scored the first two goals. Brown answered with five straight and never gave the lead back.
Brown led 8-5 at halftime before Roland Csendes scored twice in less than a minute early in the third, stretching the advantage to 10-5.

Brown: Roland Csendes scored 6 goals and finished with nine points according to Brown’s recap. Dominik Balla scored twice, with Mac Berry, Hugo Molnar, Ramzi Megali and Jaxson Tierney among the other Brown scorers. Ethan Kittredge played all four quarters in goal.

Brown’s official recap does not publish a complete goals/assists table, Kittredge’s save total or LIU’s complete individual statistics, so those numbers are intentionally omitted.

The difference: Brown’s response. Going down 2-0 on the road didn’t change the Bears’ approach; they answered with five consecutive goals and controlled the game from there. (Brown University Athletics)

No. 20 Cal State Fullerton 20, La Verne 14
DIVISION III MATCHUP

Fullerton reached a season-high 20 goals, with Denes Dobi and Cade Zeilinger recording hat tricks. The Titans recovered after La Verne closed the opening quarter with four consecutive goals and gradually took control.

No. 20 Cal State Fullerton 14, Whittier 8
DIVISION III MATCHUP

Fullerton completed a 4-0 Gary Troyer Tournament weekend with the six-goal win over Whittier.

The official Fullerton site confirms both Saturday finals, but its detailed box-score pages were not reliably retrievable during this review. Complete individual assists, opponent scoring and goalkeeper saves are therefore not being guessed.

No. 20 Santa Clara — Alumni Game
EXHIBITION

Santa Clara’s Saturday schedule lists an Alumni Game at Sullivan Aquatic Center. This should not be treated as an NCAA varsity result or included in the team’s competitive record. (Santa Clara University)

No. 16 California Baptist / No. 20 Concordia Irvine Late Gary Troyer Games

California Baptist had Chapman and Biola scheduled Saturday, while Concordia Irvine had a second game against Cal Lutheran. As of this review, their official schedule pages still do not display verified final scores for those contests. They are therefore not being assigned results or statistics here. (Concordia University Irvine Athletics)

Biggest Takeaways

Stanford had the result of the day. The Cardinal didn’t just hand No. 1 UCLA its first loss—they scored 19 goals, including seven in the fourth quarter. UCLA was better on the extra man, but Stanford generated enough offense at even strength and from five meters to overcome it.

USC-Cal remains almost impossibly close. Both goalkeepers made 15 saves, the teams combined for 29 goals and the game required sudden death. USC’s ability to manufacture Nelson’s tying goal with less than a second left and Krstic’s winner was the difference between two extremely evenly matched teams.

UC Santa Barbara had the best two-win résumé of Saturday. The Gauchos beat No. 9 San Jose State in overtime and No. 20 Saint Mary’s later the same day. Luigi Canepa totaled six goals across the two games, Charlie Johnson scored six—including the overtime winner against SJSU—and Wyatt Pieretti delivered 13 saves in the upset.

LMU made an early WCC statement. No. 14 beating No. 11 Pepperdine matters, particularly with Pepperdine goalkeeper Max Smirnov making 13 saves. LMU overcame that with 11 assists, 10 steals and a decisive 4-1 third quarter.

Goalkeepers were everywhere Saturday. Charles Mills and Aran Pina each made 15 saves in USC-Cal, Wyatt Pieretti had 13 against San Jose State, Max Smirnov made 13 against LMU, Kristóf Kovács had 12 against Harvard and Bernardo Herzer stopped nine against UCLA.
And at the very top, Saturday changed the national picture.

No. 2 Stanford beat No. 1 UCLA head-to-head, while No. 3 USC survived No. 4 Cal.

Those results gave Sunday’s Stanford-USC and UCLA-Cal games even more weight—and will make the next CWPA No. 1 vote especially interesting.

- WaterPoloInsider

MALIBU, Calif. — September 26, 2026 | Water Polo Insider

No. 13 Pepperdine gave No. 1 UCLA a real test early Saturday, but the Bruins responded with the type of run that has become a theme for the nation’s top-ranked team.

After a 4–4 first quarter, Pepperdine took a 5–4 lead early in the second. UCLA answered by scoring six consecutive goals across the second and third quarters, taking control on the way to a 16–11 victory at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool. UCLA Athletics | Pepperdine Athletics

FINAL: No. 1 UCLA 16, No. 13 Pepperdine 11

UCLA improved to 14–0 with the victory. UCLA Athletics

Bode Brinkema and Ben Larsen scored three goals each, with Larsen getting all three in the first half and Brinkema scoring all three after halftime. Ryder Dodd, Max Matthews and Marcell Szécsi added two apiece. Official Box Score

In goal, Nate Tauscher made 10 saves through three quarters. UCLA Athletics | Official Box Score

Pepperdine freshman Hunter Danko was excellent despite the loss, scoring a career-high six goals, while goalkeeper Max Smirnov made 11 saves. Pepperdine Athletics | Official Box Score

The turning point came after Pepperdine went ahead. UCLA tightened defensively and turned a one-goal deficit into a multi-goal advantage without allowing Pepperdine to answer. Against elite teams, one bad stretch can decide a game. Against UCLA, six unanswered can effectively end it.

The Bruins now turn toward MPSF play and a major weekend at Spieker: No. 2 Stanford on October 3 followed by No. 4 California on October 4. UCLA Schedule | CWPA Top 20 Poll

Water Polo Insider | Men’s College Water Polo
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LOS ANGELES — September 25, 2026
Water Polo Insider

Friday night at Spieker Aquatics Center brought together two of the hottest teams in college water polo. No. 1 UCLA entered 12–0. No. 4 Fordham arrived in Los Angeles 9–0.

The Bruins established control early, built an 8–1 advantage in the second quarter and defeated Fordham 16–11, improving to 13–0 while handing the Rams their first loss of the season. (UCLA Bruins⁠)

UCLA Sets the Tone Early

UCLA’s best stretch came right out of the gate.
The Bruins shut out Fordham in the opening quarter and took a 4–0 lead. Ben Larsen scored twice in the period, including a goal as time expired with UCLA attacking in a seven-on-six formation.

Ryder Dodd converted a 6-on-5 early in the second to extend the run to 5–0. After Fordham finally scored, UCLA answered quickly: Marcell Szécsi, Ben Liechty and Max Matthews scored within 1:15, pushing the advantage to 8–1. (UCLA Bruins⁠)

Fordham is too talented offensively to disappear, and the Rams responded with three straight goals before halftime. But against UCLA, digging out of a seven-goal hole requires nearly flawless water polo the rest of the way. Fordham got the margin back to four. It never got closer.

Tauscher Delivers in Goal

The biggest individual performance may have come at the defensive end. Nate Tauscher recorded a career-high 18 saves for UCLA.
That’s significant in a five-goal game. Fordham eventually found offense, particularly through Andras Toth, but Tauscher consistently prevented the Rams from turning individual goals into sustained runs. (UCLA Bruins⁠)

Fordham goalkeeper Viktor Savic finished with five saves. (UCLA Bruins⁠)

Dodd Leads a Balanced UCLA Attack
Ryder Dodd scored four goals, giving him his third four-goal game of the season.
But UCLA’s offensive balance was just as important.

Luka Gladović and Ben Liechty each scored three, while Bode Brinkema and Ben Larsen added two apiece. Max Matthews and Marcell Szécsi each scored once, giving UCLA seven different goal scorers. (UCLA Bruins⁠)

The Bruins were also more productive with the extra attacker, converting 5 of 11 opportunities on 6-on-5, compared with Fordham’s 2-for-6. UCLA went 2-for-2 from the penalty line, while Fordham converted its only penalty opportunity. (UCLA Bruins⁠)

That extra-man differential matters. In a game between two top-five teams, UCLA created more exclusion opportunities and converted three more power-play goals.

Fordham Shows Why It Belongs in the Top Five

The final score shouldn’t obscure what Fordham did after falling behind 8–1. The Rams finished the first half with three straight goals and then played UCLA even, 2–2, in the third quarter. Fordham scored five more in the fourth.
Andras Toth was outstanding with six goals, including three in the fourth quarter. (UCLA Bruins⁠)

From a coaching perspective, Fordham’s response was impressive. A team can unravel quickly after going down seven against the defending NCAA champion in its home pool. Fordham didn’t. The Rams continued attacking and forced UCLA to keep answering. But the opening deficit was simply too much.

The Water Polo Insider Take

The biggest difference wasn’t UCLA’s 16 goals. It was how quickly the Bruins imposed the game they wanted to play. UCLA defended Fordham off the scoreboard for the entire first quarter, created opportunities in multiple offensive situations and had a goalkeeper producing stops behind the defense. By the time Fordham settled into the game, it was already chasing an 8–1 deficit.

Fordham deserves credit for making it competitive from there. Toth’s six-goal performance against the nation’s No. 1 team was legitimate, and the Rams essentially played UCLA even after the Bruins’ early run. But UCLA showed why it remains the unanimous No. 1 team in the latest CWPA poll. (Collegiate Water Polo Association⁠)

The Bruins are now 13–0, coming off an MPSF Invitational championship and adding another top-five victory to their resume.

There isn’t much recovery time, either.

UCLA travels to Malibu Saturday for another ranked matchup, this time against No. 13 Pepperdine at 1 p.m. PT. (UCLA Bruins⁠)

FINAL: No. 1 UCLA 16, No. 4 Fordham 11

Quarter-by-quarter:
Fordham: 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 — 11
UCLA: 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 — 16

UCLA: Ryder Dodd 4, Luka Gladović 3, Ben Liechty 3, Bode Brinkema 2, Ben Larsen 2, Max Matthews 1, Marcell Szécsi 1. Nate Tauscher — 18 saves.

Fordham: Andras Toth 6, Nikola Dragosevic 1, Luka Kojic 1, Julian Strasser 1, Diego Tresa 1, Maksim Veklyuk 1. Viktor Savic — 5 saves.
6-on-5: UCLA 5/11 | Fordham 2/6

Penalties: UCLA 2/2 | Fordham 1/1 (UCLA Bruins⁠)

Water Polo Insider | Men’s College Water Polo
Official UCLA game report and box score⁠

The Overnght MPSF Invitational reshaped the national poll. UCLA remains No. 1 after beating Stanford 11–10 in the championship game, but the Cardinal’s 10–8 semifinal win over USC moves Stanford into second. UCLA received all 100 available points in this week’s CWPA coaches poll.

The biggest movement comes below the top three. UC Irvine climbs five places to No. 8, Loyola Marymount rises four to No. 11, and UC Davis falls from a tie for sixth to No. 16.

CWPA MEN’S VARSITY TOP 20
SEPTEMBER 23

Rankings are followed by poll points and last week’s position.

No. 1 UCLA — 100 points | Previous: 1
No. 2 Stanford — 95 | Previous: 3
No. 3 USC — 90 | Previous: 2
T-No. 4 California (Cal) — 82 | Previous: 4
T-No. 4 Fordham — 82 | Previous: 5
No. 6 Long Beach State — 76 | Previous: T-6
No. 7 UC San Diego — 70 | Previous: 9
No. 8 UC Irvine — 64 | Previous: 13
No. 9 San Jose State — 60 | Previous: T-11
No. 10 Princeton — 57 | Previous: 8
No. 11 Loyola Marymount — 49 | Previous: 15
No. 12 Pacific — 44 | Previous: 10
No. 13 Pepperdine — 41 | Previous: T-11
No. 14 UC Santa Barbara — 34 | Previous: 14
No. 15 California Baptist — 32 | Previous: 16
No. 16 UC Davis — 26 | Previous: T-6
No. 17 Santa Clara — 20 | Previous: 17
No. 18 Navy — 15 | Previous: 19
No. 19 Saint Mary’s (CA) — 6 | Previous: 20
T-No. 20 Cal State Fullerton — 4 | Previous: unranked
T-No. 20 Brown — 4 | Previous: 18

Receiving votes: Harvard (2), Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (1), Johns Hopkins (1) and Bucknell (1). The tie at No. 20 puts 21 teams in the Top 20.

WHAT MOVED THE POLL

UCLA and Stanford separated themselves at the top of the weekend bracket. Stanford beat USC in the semifinal, then pushed UCLA to the final second of the championship game. UCLA won it 11–10, giving the Bruins both the tournament title and a unanimous No. 1 ranking. USC recovered to beat Cal 13–12 for third place, while Cal and Fordham now share No. 4 in the national poll.

UC Irvine’s climb has a clear starting point: a 14–10 win over UC Davis on September 18. The Anteaters led 5–1 after the first quarter, saw Davis close the gap to one entering the fourth, and finished with a 4–1 final period. Irvine later beat San Jose State 15–14 in the seventh-place game.

San Jose State moves into the top ten after opening the invitational with a 14–12 win over Princeton. Princeton drops to No. 10, though the Tigers responded during the tournament and beat Loyola Marymount 10–9 in the ninth-place game.

Loyola Marymount’s rise is another résumé change worth watching. The Lions beat UC Davis 11–8 and Pepperdine 15–14. Davis also lost 17–16 to California Baptist in the 13th-place game. Those results help explain why LMU and California Baptist moved up while Davis took the poll’s steepest fall.

Long Beach State takes sole possession of No. 6 after beating UC San Diego 17–16 for fifth. UC San Diego still rises to No. 7, while Pepperdine slips to No. 13 and UC Santa Barbara holds at No. 14.

At the bottom, Santa Clara remains No. 17, Navy and Saint Mary’s each gain one place, and Cal State Fullerton enters the national poll alongside Brown at T-No. 20.

The poll reflects games through the September 18–20 weekend. Its message is straightforward: UCLA has the title and the unanimous vote, Stanford has a win over USC, and results between teams ranked sixth through sixteenth are already moving the order fast.

September 20, 2026 | Avery Aquatic Center | Stanford, California

The Overnght MPSF Invitational ended with exactly what the top of men’s college water polo promised: two one-goal games, two fourth-quarter battles and two finishes that came down to the final minute.

No. 1 UCLA captured its fourth consecutive Overnght MPSF Invitational title with an 11-10 victory over No. 3 Stanford, as freshman Luka Gladović scored the championship-winning goal with one second remaining.

Earlier Sunday, No. 2 USC produced an even more dramatic fourth-quarter turnaround, erasing an 11-8 deficit after three quarters to defeat No. 4 Cal 13-12 for third place. Strahinja Krstić scored the winner with 51 seconds remaining. The rankings used here are the September 16 CWPA poll, which had UCLA No. 1, USC No. 2, Stanford No. 3 and Cal No. 4.

Championship: No. 1 UCLA 11, No. 3 Stanford 10
Quarter-by-quarter:
UCLA: 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 — 11
Stanford: 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 — 10

This championship never really settled into one team’s control. Bode Brinkema put UCLA ahead only 20 seconds into the game, but Stanford answered with two goals. Ryder Dodd responded on UCLA’s next possession before Danilo Dragović finished a counterattack from Wade Sherlock to give the Bruins a 3-2 advantage after the first quarter.

Stanford opened the second with consecutive goals before Brinkema tied it 4-4 with 4:44 remaining. Gavin West eventually restored Stanford’s lead, but Ben Liechty scored in the closing seconds of the half to send the teams into the break tied 5-5.

The third quarter belonged to UCLA. Luka Gladović scored twice in the period, and after Ben Forer answered his first goal, Gladović struck again. Wade Sherlock followed to give UCLA an 8-6 lead, and neither side scored over the final 4:04 of the quarter.

Then Stanford came. Forer continued an exceptional championship performance, scoring repeatedly as Stanford worked back into the game. Ryder Dodd and Ben Liechty supplied critical UCLA responses, but Stanford would not go away.

With UCLA ahead 10-9, Guido Leonardi scored with 1:06 remaining to tie the championship 10-10. Stanford then generated an opportunity to take the lead after a steal, but UCLA goalkeeper Nate Tauscher made the save with fewer than 10 seconds remaining.

That save gave UCLA one final possession.
After a timeout, Dodd, Liechty and Gladović moved the ball before Gladović got the final shot away. With one second left, the freshman beat Bernardo Herzer for his third goal of the game and an 11-10 UCLA victory. Tauscher knocked down Stanford’s final desperation attempt.

UCLA Scoring:
Luka Gladović — 3 goals
Bode Brinkema — 2 goals
Ryder Dodd — 2 goals
Ben Liechty — 2 goals
Danilo Dragović — 1 goal
Wade Sherlock — 1 goal
Total: 11 goals
Goalkeeper: Nate Tauscher — 11 saves
6-on-5: 1-for-9
Penalties: 0-for-1

Stanford Scoring:
Ben Forer — 6 goals
Kai Kaneko — 1 goal
Guido Leonardi — 1 goal
James Rozolis-Hill — 1 goal
Gavin West — 1 goal
Total: 10 goals
Goalkeeper: Bernardo Herzer — 14 saves
6-on-5: 4-for-10
Penalties: 2-for-2

Forer’s six-goal performance deserves attention even in a loss. He accounted for 60 percent of Stanford’s scoring and was the primary reason the Cardinal was able to erase UCLA’s fourth-quarter advantage.

But the final sequence also showed why UCLA left Stanford with the championship. Tauscher made the save UCLA had to have, the Bruins handled the transition into their final possession without wasting the opportunity, and Gladović finished.

At this level, one possession is often the difference. On Sunday, it literally was.

Third Place: No. 2 USC 13, No. 4 Cal 12
Quarter-by-quarter:
USC: 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 — 13
Cal: 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 — 12
The third-place game was a completely different kind of one-goal finish.

Cal controlled much of the afternoon.
The Bears led 4-3 after the first quarter and 7-6 at halftime. Kai Inoue was at the center of Cal’s offense, while USC stayed close enough to keep the game within reach. Cal then made its strongest push immediately after halftime.

Beso Akhvlediani scored three times in just over two minutes during the third quarter. Inoue added his fourth goal later in the period, and Cal carried an 11-8 advantage into the fourth.
When Robert López Duart scored for USC with 6:52 remaining, Maddox Arlett answered only 16 seconds later.

Cal 12, USC 9.

That would be Cal’s final goal.
Strahinja Krstić scored 12 seconds later to make it 12-10. Ante Jerković then stole the ball and finished the counterattack at 5:56.
12-11.

For nearly four minutes, neither team scored.
Then Jerković struck again with 1:58 remaining, completing USC’s comeback from three down and tying the game 12-12.
USC still needed one more.

With 51 seconds remaining, Krstić scored his fourth goal of the game. USC had its first lead since the opening quarter, 13-12, and this time Cal could not answer. USC outscored Cal 5-1 in the fourth quarter, including the final four goals of the game after Arlett’s score at 6:36.

USC Scoring:
Strahinja Krstić — 4 goals, 4 points
Gavin Conant — 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points
Ante Jerković — 3 goals, 3 points
Efe Naipoglu — 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points
Robert López Duart — 1 goal, 1 point
Total: 13 goals

Apostolos Georgaras contributed 3 assists. USC finished with 8 assists, 21 points, 4 steals and 2 field blocks. Charles Mills played all 32 minutes in goal and recorded 9 saves.
There were important contributions beyond the scoring column. Jerković had 2 steals, López Duart and Naipoglu each had one, while Krstić drew four exclusions and recorded a field block.

Cal Scoring:
Kai Inoue — 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points
Beso Akhvlediani — 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points
Tomas Perrone — 1 goal
Maddox Arlett — 1 goal
Alex Oprea — 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points
Patrik Kolak — 1 goal
Seth Bousfield — 1 goal
Total: 12 goals

Cal finished with 6 assists, 18 points and 4 steals. Aran Pina played all 32 minutes in goal and made 9 saves; Cal’s official recap also credits Pina with 2 steals. Ilias Angelopoulos drew four exclusions and recorded a field block.

One statistical note is worth making explicit: Cal’s official game-leader data lists Inoue with 4 goals, 2 assists and 6 points, which is what is reflected here and on the final graphic. The prose portion of Cal’s recap describes him as having five points and one assist, creating an internal discrepancy on the same official page; the structured game statistics and team totals support the 4G/2A/6PTS figure.

The Difference Came Late

The two games reached their one-goal finishes in very different ways.

Stanford spent the fourth quarter chasing UCLA and eventually caught the Bruins. USC spent the fourth quarter chasing Cal and eventually passed the Bears.

UCLA’s final sequence came down to its goalkeeper making a stop and its offense converting the last legitimate possession of the championship.

USC’s comeback required something more sustained. Cal led 12-9 with 6:36 remaining. From that point forward, the Bears didn’t score again. USC got goals from Krstić, Jerković, Jerković again and finally Krstić.

For a coach or player, that is what stands out from Championship Sunday. These games weren’t decided by one team dominating for 32 minutes. They were decided by who could still execute when possessions became more valuable and mistakes became harder to recover from.

UCLA did it on the final possession.
USC did it over the final six minutes.

- Water Polo Insider

The nation’s top four teams all advanced, but the opening round wasn’t without disruption.

No. 11 San Jose State beat No. 8 Princeton, No. 13 UC Irvine knocked off No. 6 UC Davis, and No. 9 UC San Diego survived No. 11 Pepperdine by one. There were also some outstanding individual performances across the field.

No. 1 UCLA 23, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 4

UCLA took control immediately, scoring nine unanswered goals in the first quarter and building an 11-0 advantage before CMS finally scored.

Fourteen different Bruins found the cage.

UCLA: Jackson Harlan 4 goals; Tristan Tucker 3; Frederico Jucá Carsalade 2; Jack Merrill 2; Hayden O’Hare 2; Marcell Szécsi 2; Connor Colman 1; Ryder Dodd 1; Danilo Dragović 1; Luka Gladović 1; Flynn Guenther 1; Peter Castillo 1; Ben Liechty 1; and Vinnie Merk 1.

Harper Gardner made 9 saves.

CMS: Weston Hartel 2 goals, with Donat and Liberatore scoring 1 each. CMS goalkeepers Campbell and Luinenburg recorded 2 and 1 saves, respectively.

UCLA went 3-for-6 on 6-on-5 and 1-for-1 from five meters. CMS was 0-for-2 on the extra man.
The UCLA report does not provide individual assists, so none are being assigned.

Water Polo Insider: Fourteen different scorers is the important number. UCLA got production throughout the roster, Harper Gardner controlled the cage and the Bruins were able to spread minutes without sacrificing defensive structure. That’s exactly how you want to open a three-day tournament.

No. 9 UC San Diego 10, No. 11 Pepperdine 9

One of the best games of the opening round.
The teams were tied 4-4 at halftime before UC San Diego won the third quarter 4-2 and took an 8-6 advantage into the fourth.

UC San Diego: Jackson Boettner 4 goals; Christian Hammonds 2; Jack Wright 2; Finn Bugelli 1; Mason Presley 1.

The official box score records zero UC San Diego assists.

Pepperdine: Erik Ionescu 3 goals, 1 assist; Hunter Danko 2 goals, 1 assist; Ivan Khramtsov 2 goals; Conor Brough 1 goal, 1 assist; Jackson Benners 1 goal, 1 assist; Jon Carcarey 1 assist.

Pepperdine goalkeeper Max Smirnov made 7 saves.

Jackson Boettner supplied four of UCSD’s 10 goals, but Finn Bugelli delivered the biggest one. Pepperdine had cut a 9-6 deficit to 9-8 before Finn Bugelli scored with 39 seconds remaining. Hunter Danko converted a five-meter penalty with 23 seconds left, but UCSD protected the final possession.

Water Polo Insider: Jackson Boettner carried a major share of the offense, but this game came down to UCSD finding one composed possession after Pepperdine had seized the momentum. Finn Bugelli delivered it.

No. 4 Cal 20, No. 15 Loyola Marymount 9

Cal was ruthless offensively.

The Bears led 6-1 after one quarter and 12-4 at halftime, eventually finishing with 20 goals on only 28 shots.

CAL: Beso Akhvlediani 3 goals, 2 assists; Chase Wilson 3 goals; Alex Oprea 2; Wyatt Williamson 2; Tomas Perrone 2; Patrik Kolak 2; Seth Bousfield 2; João Leme 1; Luke Bachler 1; Ilias Angelopoulos 1; Ryder Hagan 1.
Cal recorded 6 team assists. Beso Akhvlediani accounted for two of them.

Aran Pina made 6 saves in the first half and Riley Clansen made 6 saves after halftime. Riley Clansen also stopped all four five-meter penalties he faced.

LMU: Luka Dimic 4 goals; Eduardo Carraresi 1; Mateo Obando 1; Caden Poulleau 1; Soren Martin 1; Roman Saroyan 1 goal, 1 assist.
LMU recorded 2 assists as a team. Adrian Ramirez made 8 saves.

Cal finished with 7 steals to LMU’s six.

Water Polo Insider: Cal’s 71.4 percent shooting is difficult enough to overcome. Combine it with 12 goalkeeper saves and Riley Clansen going four-for-four against penalty shots and there simply wasn’t a path back for LMU. Seven different Bears scored multiple goals. That’s championship-level offensive depth.

No. 13 UC Irvine 14, No. 6 UC Davis 10
One of the biggest results of Day 1.

No. 13 UC Irvine knocked off No. 6 UC Davis 14-10, giving the Anteaters exactly the kind of head-to-head result that should matter when the next CWPA coaches’ poll is released.

At publication time, UCI’s official site confirms the 14-10 final, but the September 18 result does not yet have a publicly accessible official individual box score attached. UC Davis’ official schedule likewise had not populated a complete postgame statistical ledger when checked.

For that reason, I am not assigning goals, assists, goalkeeper saves or exclusion statistics to individual players in this game until an official box score is published.

Water Polo Insider: The absence of a box score doesn’t diminish the result. Irvine entered at No. 13 and beat No. 6 by four at the deepest tournament of the regular season. That’s a result voters will have to account for.

No. 2 USC 17, No. 16 California Baptist 13

USC established control early, leading 5-1 after one quarter and 11-4 at halftime before California Baptist produced a much stronger second half.

There was plenty of offense on both sides.

USC: Gavin Conant 3 goals; Robert López Duart 3; Strahinja Krstić 3 goals, 1 assist; Apostolos Georgaras 2 goals, 1 assist; Luke Nelson 2; Efe Naipoglu 1 goal, 3 assists; Marc Angelescu 1 goal, 2 assists; Taj Whitehead 1 goal, 1 assist; Breydon Congo 1.

Ante Jerković recorded 3 assists. Luke Harris, Reed Hanna and Zach Bettino each added 1 assist.

Charles Mills made 7 saves in 16 minutes, while Luke Harris made 4 saves in the second half.
USC recorded 14 assists on 17 goals and 11 steals.

Strahinja Krstić also produced 3 steals and drew 5 exclusions. Tyler Anderson drew 7 exclusions.

California Baptist: Andrea Nuzzo 4 goals, 1 assist; Wyatt Bugbee 3 goals, 1 assist; Whitley Beamon 2 goals, 2 assists; Rafa Martinez 1 goal, 1 assist; Tanner Alford 1 goal, 1 assist; Collin White 1 goal; Alessandro Tiberio 1 goal.

Tanner McCreary made 6 saves, while Tyler Carson added 3.

Water Polo Insider: USC’s center production jumps off the box score. Strahinja Krstić and Tyler Anderson combined to draw 12 exclusions, forcing CBU to repeatedly defend with five field players. Pair that with 14 assists and you see why USC was able to create such clean offensive possessions.

CBU deserves credit for scoring nine after halftime, but the Trojans had already created too much separation.

No. 11 San Jose State 14, No. 8 Princeton 12
The result of Day 1.

Princeton led 5-4 after one, 7-5 at halftime and 11-10 entering the fourth quarter. Then San Jose State took over.

San Jose State: Sam Keightley 3 goals, 2 assists; Giancarlo Marquez 2 goals; Louis Fehrensen 2 goals, 1 assist; Samu Biros 2 goals; Aron Sárfalvi 2 goals, 3 assists; Mitchell Keightley 1 goal, 2 assists; Mateja Cetkovic 1 goal; Aidan Johnson 1 goal, 1 assist.

Sam Keightley also drew a team-high 4 exclusions.

Alexey Poletaev made 5 saves.

Louis Fehrensen scored twice in the fourth to first tie the game and then give San Jose State its first lead. Mitchell Keightley pushed the margin to 13-11 before Sam Keightley closed it out.

Princeton: Enrique Nuño delivered an outstanding performance with 5 goals and 3 assists. Kristof Kovács made 9 saves.
Princeton also accumulated 15 steals and drew 11 exclusions.

Water Polo Insider: That’s why this wasn’t simply Princeton having a bad afternoon. The Tigers generated turnovers, drew exclusions and got eight points from Enrique Nuño. San Jose State still took the game away in the fourth. When a ranked opponent is producing and you still execute better over the final eight minutes, that’s a legitimate statement win.

No. 3 Stanford 21, No. 17 Santa Clara 4

Stanford controlled this from the opening quarter and then completely broke it open after halftime.

The Cardinal led 5-1 after one and 8-2 at halftime before producing an 8-0 third quarter.

Stanford: Alex Gheorghe 3 goals; Collin Caras 3; Connor Ohl 2; Kai Kaneko 2; Ryan Ohl 1; Evan Wu 1; Max Zelikov 1; Simone De Vecchis 1; Daniel Mnatsakanian 1; Botond Balogh 1; Gavin West 1; Dimitris Chatzis 1; Guido Leonardi 1; Nic Austen 1; Ben Forer 1.

Stanford’s official game report does not publish a player-by-player assist ledger, so individual assists are not being assigned.

Bernardo Herzer made 7 saves while allowing two goals. Cormac Mulloy and Harrison Rohlen each made 2 saves and allowed one goal apiece. Stanford finished with 11 saves, 6 steals and 6 field blocks.

Santa Clara: Riccardo De Simon 1 goal; Ashton Brown 1; Jason Alietti 1; Mathijs Dirven 1.

Santa Clara’s official recap confirms those four scorers but does not publish a complete assist ledger.

Water Polo Insider: Fifteen Stanford players scored. But the most impressive stretch was defensive: Stanford came out of halftime already up six and then won the third quarter 8-0. That’s a team reinforcing habits instead of relaxing because the scoreboard says the game is over.

No. 6 Long Beach State 16, No. 14 UC Santa Barbara 9

Long Beach State built separation in the first half and then answered every UCSB attempt to get back into the game.

The Beach led 7-2 at halftime. Santa Barbara finally found its offense with five goals in the third quarter — but Long Beach scored five of its own.

Long Beach: Gabi Acosta 5 goals; Marc Frigola 3 goals, 2 assists; Oliver Sudar 3 goals, 1 assist; Corbin Stanley 2 goals, 2 assists; Zalan Nagy 1 goal, 1 assist; Keegan Moore 1 goal; Artur Diaz 1 goal.

Harper Stewart didn’t score but was one of the game’s most important offensive players, recording 5 assists.

Long Beach State finished with 11 assists on 16 goals.

William Whitstone made 8 saves and recorded a steal.

UC Santa Barbara: Charlie Johnson 2; Camren Simoncelli 2 goals; Dash D’Ambrosia 1; Landon Lassahn 1; Finn Genc 1; Oliver Sherwood 1; Sean Keane 1.

The official UCSB box score records zero assists for the Gauchos.

Wyatt Pieretti made 4 saves.

Water Polo Insider: Harper Stewart’s five assists deserve as much attention as the goal scorers. Long Beach wasn’t just finishing shots; it was moving the ball and creating quality opportunities. And when UCSB finally generated five third-quarter goals, the Beach answered with five. That’s how you kill a comeback before it starts.

Water Polo Insider Biggest Takeaways:

San Jose State made the strongest statement. The Spartans trailed No. 8 Princeton entering the fourth and then went out and won the game. Sam Keightley, Aron Sárfalvi and Louis Fehrensen were central to that turnaround.

UC Irvine created the other major rankings result. No. 13 beating No. 6 UC Davis 14-10 should carry real weight next Wednesday.

Cal may have delivered the most complete performance. Twenty goals on 28 shots, seven multi-goal scorers, 12 goalkeeper saves and Riley Clansen stopping four penalties is outstanding at both ends.

USC’s center game is creating serious problems. Strahinja Krstić and Tyler Anderson combined to draw 12 exclusions, while USC assisted on 14 of its 17 goals.

Long Beach State’s distribution stood out. Gabi Acosta scored five, but Harper Stewart’s five assists and 11 team assists showed how effectively the Beach was creating shots for one another.

UCLA and Stanford showed remarkable depth. UCLA had 14 different scorers. Stanford had 15.

And UC San Diego continues to win tight ranked games. Jackson Boettner scored four, but Finn Bugelli made the play that mattered most when Pepperdine had the Tritons under pressure late.

Day 1 established the bracket.

Day 2 will start showing us how much separation really exists among the best teams in the country.

— Water Polo Insider

The September 16 CWPA Men’s Varsity Top 20 keeps UCLA at No. 1, but the latest ballot says almost as much about the teams immediately behind the Bruins.

UCLA received 97 points. USC received 96.
That single point is the narrowest possible separation without a tie, and it reflects an opening three weeks in which neither program has given voters much reason to move away from them. Stanford remains third, Cal fourth and Fordham fifth, while Princeton makes the largest move of the week and Navy enters the Top 20. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

The complete upper half now reads UCLA, USC, Stanford, Cal and Fordham, followed by UC Davis and Long Beach State tied at No. 6, Princeton at No. 8, UC San Diego at No. 9 and Pacific at No. 10. Pepperdine and San Jose State are tied at No. 11. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

Three weeks into the season, the poll is beginning to tell us more than who has accumulated wins. We are starting to see which teams can control games against ranked opposition, which teams can recover when momentum shifts and which programs have begun separating themselves from the middle of the field.

UCLA Holds No. 1, but Irvine Made the Bruins Work for It

UCLA remains undefeated at 8-0, and the Bruins’ 16-14 win at UC Irvine may have been more useful than another comfortable victory.
UCLA led 9-4 at halftime before Irvine worked its way back into the game. The Anteaters twice got within two in the fourth quarter. Ryder Dodd then scored twice in the final 3:21 and finished with a game-high four goals. (UCLA Bruins)

That is the part of the game that matters when evaluating UCLA. Good teams are going to have stretches where the rhythm changes. A five-goal lead becomes three. A couple of exclusions change possession control. The opponent starts getting stops and suddenly a game that looked finished is not finished. UCLA did not play a perfect second half, but it responded when the game demanded a response.

The Bruins followed the Irvine win by beating No. 14 UC Santa Barbara 13-9 and No. 15 LMU 24-12 at Spieker Aquatics Center. Against UCSB, UCLA opened with a 5-0 first quarter and converted six of eight extra-man opportunities. Against LMU, the Bruins went 8-for-12 with the extra man and scored 14 goals after halftime. Jack Merrill scored seven goals across the two games. (UCLA Bruins)

The offensive depth remains obvious. UCLA can create from center, attack out of movement, run in transition and get goals from players who do not need an offense built specifically around them. But Irvine also showed that UCLA can be pressured. That is valuable information for the Top 20 in September.

USC Is No Ordinary No. 2

USC remains second, but calling the Trojans simply the No. 2 team understates the current race at the top. The difference is one poll point: UCLA 97, USC 96. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

USC is 7-0 and has been overwhelming offensively. The Trojans scored 17 against Long Beach State, 17 against Pepperdine and then put 24 on UC Irvine on September 12. (USC Athletics)

The Irvine game showed why USC can be so difficult to defend. The Trojans scored the first five goals, led 11-7 at halftime and then scored eight times in the third quarter. Robert López Duart had four goals, while Strahinja Krstic, Apostolos Georgaras and Marc Angelescu each scored three. Twelve different USC players scored. (USC Athletics)

When twelve players are involved in the scoring, a defense cannot spend four quarters loading toward one attacker or one side of the pool. Every exclusion, every matchup and every defensive rotation becomes more difficult because USC has multiple players capable of finishing a possession.

There is still a question worth watching.
Pepperdine scored 14 against USC. Irvine scored 15. USC has had enough offense to absorb those numbers, but eventually the Trojans are going to face opponents that will not allow them to simply score their way through every difficult stretch.

When USC meets the other teams at the top of this poll, defensive possessions will matter just as much as offensive volume. For now, however, USC has earned every bit of that 96-point total.

Stanford Is Winning With More Than Offense

Stanford remains No. 3 with 90 points, and the Cardinal have quietly been one of the most convincing teams in the country. They are 5-0, with wins over UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Pepperdine, UC Santa Barbara and Pacific. The victories over those four Division I ranked opponents came by 10, eight, 11 and 13 goals. (Stanford Cardinal Athletics)

Stanford held the Tigers to one goal in the entire second half. The Cardinal had already established a 12-5 halftime lead, but instead of allowing the game to loosen, Stanford took away nearly everything Pacific wanted offensively after the break. (Stanford Cardinal Athletics)

That is the type of performance that tends to translate when the schedule becomes more difficult. Anyone can appreciate 19 goals. Experienced players also notice when a team can spend 16 minutes controlling center, closing shooting lanes, getting blocks and forcing poor possessions without repeatedly putting itself in exclusion trouble.

Stanford has not yet played UCLA, USC or Cal. Until those games happen, comparisons among the top four remain incomplete. But Stanford has done exactly what a No. 3 team should be doing to this point: beating good teams decisively.

Cal May Have Made the Strongest Statement of the Week

Cal remains No. 4 with 85 points, just one ahead of Fordham. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)
The Bears’ ranking did not move, but their play certainly strengthened their case.

Cal beat No. 10 Pacific 18-7 on Friday and then went to Davis on Sunday and beat No. 6 UC Davis 19-7. (California Golden Bears Athletics)
The Davis result deserves attention.

Cal led 7-2 after one quarter and held the Aggies to two total goals in the second half. Tomas Perrone finished with five goals and four assists, while the Bears scored 19 times on only 27 attempts. (California Golden Bears Athletics)
That is not merely winning a ranked game. That is controlling one.

There is a major difference between escaping with a two-goal victory and taking a Top-10 opponent out of its preferred game before halftime. Cal did the latter twice in three days.

The Bears remain fourth because UCLA, USC and Stanford have also continued to win. The ranking does not diminish what Cal did this week.

At some point, those four programs will start playing one another, and the ordering will become much easier to defend.

Fordham Continues to Make No. 5 Look Normal

Perhaps the most significant thing about Fordham being ranked fifth is that it no longer feels unusual. The Rams remained No. 5 with 84 points, one behind Cal, after improving to 6-0. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

Fordham beat No. 9 Pepperdine 16-12 on Friday and No. 11 San Jose State 14-10 on Sunday. Those results followed earlier victories over Pacific and UC Davis. (Fordham University Athletics)

The Pepperdine game was particularly instructive. Fordham built a 9-4 advantage before Pepperdine fought back and eventually tied the game at 10 late in the third quarter. The Rams answered with another four-goal run and closed out the game. Andras Toth and Vuk Kojic each scored five. (Fordham University Athletics)

Against San Jose State, Fordham again created separation and then managed the response when the Spartans tried to come back. Diego Tresa scored four, and eight Rams scored overall in the 14-10 win. (Fordham University Athletics)

This is no longer a program that should be discussed primarily through the lens of geography. Fordham entered this season after five consecutive MAWPC championships and consecutive trips to the national semifinals. Now the Rams have opened 2026 by beating Pacific, UC Davis, Pepperdine and San Jose State. (Fordham University Athletics)

The next question is no longer whether Fordham belongs in the Top 5 conversation. It is how Fordham matches up directly with the four teams ahead of it. The Rams are scheduled to visit UCLA on September 25. (UCLA Bruins)

UC Davis and Long Beach State Meet at No. 6

UC Davis remains sixth while Long Beach State moves up from seventh, leaving the two teams tied with 72 points. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

For Davis, the 19-7 loss to Cal was difficult, but one bad afternoon against an elite opponent should be read in context. The Aggies are 7-3 and have already played Fordham and Cal, two of the top five teams in the current poll. (California Golden Bears Athletics)

Long Beach State’s rise is also a reminder that rankings do not exist in a vacuum. When teams around you lose, previous results are reevaluated. The Beach’s only defeat entering this stage of the season came against USC, 17-11, a game in which USC led from the opening quarter. (USC Athletics)

The tie at No. 6 feels appropriate because neither team has yet created enough separation from the other. The next round of ranked games should change that.

Princeton Is the Week’s Biggest Mover

No team improved its position more than Princeton. The Tigers jump from No. 12 to No. 8 after going 5-0 at the Princeton Invitational. They beat Saint Mary’s 15-8, Navy 16-15, San Jose State 15-11, Pepperdine 12-9 and Mount St. Mary’s 18-5. (Princeton University Athletics)

The Navy game showed Princeton could close out a one-goal game against an opponent that ultimately entered this week’s Top 20. The Tigers then beat San Jose State by four later the same day and returned Sunday to beat Pepperdine by three. (Princeton University Athletics)

There are different ways to learn about a team.
You learn something when it wins by 10. You often learn more when it has the ball with two minutes left, the game is tied or separated by one goal, and every offensive decision matters.
Princeton experienced both kinds of games over the weekend.

At 8-0 with multiple ranked wins, the Tigers have earned their place in the Top 10.

UC San Diego Falls a Spot Without Having a Bad Week

UC San Diego drops from No. 8 to No. 9, but this is an important example of why simply reading the arrows next to a ranking can be misleading.
The Tritons did not collapse.

They beat Chapman 19-8 and Cal State Fullerton 16-9 on September 11, improving to 7-1. (UC San Diego)

UC San Diego fell because Princeton produced a weekend that demanded recognition. There is a difference between being passed and playing poorly.

The Tritons remain firmly in the Top 10 and have already demonstrated they can play against high-level competition. The next step is adding another significant ranked win to keep pace with Princeton and the teams immediately above them.

Pacific Holds No. 10

Pacific remains No. 10 with 52 points. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

The ranking held, but the Tigers had a difficult week. They lost 18-7 to Cal and 19-6 to Stanford. Against Stanford, Pacific managed only one second-half goal. (California Golden Bears Athletics)

There is nothing alarming about losing to No. 3 and No. 4. The concern is how quickly both games separated. For teams trying to establish themselves in the Top 10, the issue against elite opponents is not necessarily winning every game. It is remaining connected to the game long enough to make the favorite execute under pressure.

If the score reaches seven or eight goals before the fourth quarter, that pressure disappears.
Pacific’s next opportunities against ranked teams will tell us whether this week was simply a difficult matchup stretch or an indication of a larger gap between the Tigers and the top of the poll.

Pepperdine and San Jose State Share No. 11

Pepperdine drops two positions from No. 9 and now shares No. 11 with San Jose State at 50 points. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

Pepperdine may have played one of the most difficult early schedules in the country.
The Waves have already faced Long Beach State, UC San Diego, Stanford, USC, Fordham and Princeton. This past weekend brought a 16-12 loss at Fordham and a 12-9 loss at Princeton. (Pepperdine University Athletics)

Playing good teams exposes problems much faster than comfortable wins do. It tells you whether your center offense holds up against bigger defenders, whether your extra-man offense can survive better shot blocking and whether your perimeter players can still create when the first look is removed.

But eventually, competitive losses have to become wins. Pepperdine has enough quality to climb back into the Top 10. It now needs a result that forces voters to move it. San Jose State finds itself in a similar position after losses to Princeton and Fordham over the weekend.

The Spartans played two legitimate Top-10 teams on the road. There is no reason to overreact to those losses, but moving upward will require beating one of the programs currently ahead of them.

Irvine and Santa Barbara Are Better Than Their Rankings May Suggest

UC Irvine remains No. 13, while UC Santa Barbara stays No. 14. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

Irvine’s week was a good example of how complicated ranking teams can become. The Anteaters lost 16-14 to UCLA and 24-15 to USC. Those are two losses, but the UCLA game showed a great deal more than the final column in the standings. Irvine came back from five down at halftime and twice got within two in the fourth quarter before Ryder Dodd finished the game for UCLA. (UCLA Bruins)

The USC game was different. The Trojans created separation early and continued extending it. (USC Athletics)

For Irvine, the lesson is fairly clear: the ability to compete with No. 1 is there, but performance across four quarters still has to become more consistent.

UCSB also remains dangerous despite sitting at No. 14. The Gauchos lost 13-9 to UCLA after falling behind 5-0 in the opening quarter. From the second quarter on, UCSB played UCLA essentially even. (UCLA Bruins)

Again, the problem was not talent. It was the cost of one poor quarter against the best team in the country.

Navy Sails Into the Top 20

One of the best stories in the September 16 poll belongs to Navy. The Midshipmen move from receiving votes to No. 19 after a weekend that included a one-goal loss to Princeton and a 17-13 win over No. 18 Harvard. Navy is now 7-1. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

The Princeton loss actually strengthens the context around Navy. The Midshipmen lost 16-15 to the team that just jumped from No. 12 to No. 8. Navy then beat LIU 22-8 and followed it by defeating Harvard by four. (Naval Academy Athletics)

That is a legitimate argument for inclusion. Navy’s win over Harvard was its first victory over a ranked opponent this season, and eight different Midshipmen scored. (Naval Academy Athletics)

Harvard, which had been tied at No. 18, falls out of the Top 20 and into the receiving-votes category. Brown now owns No. 18 outright, while Saint Mary’s remains No. 20. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

Navy entering the poll also adds another East Coast program to a national picture already being altered by Fordham and Princeton.
That is healthy for the sport.

The Poll Is Beginning to Develop Real Separation

The September 16 rankings are more interesting than a simple list from one through twenty.

At the top, UCLA is still No. 1, but USC is one voting point away. Stanford has been dominant defensively. Cal just beat two Top-10 opponents by 11 and 12 goals. Fordham continues to beat ranked California programs and remains only one point behind Cal. That gives us a clearly defined first five. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

The next group is less settled. UC Davis and Long Beach State are tied at No. 6. Princeton has jumped directly into that conversation at No. 8. UC San Diego remains close behind at No. 9.
Pacific holds the final position in the Top 10, but Pepperdine and San Jose State are only two poll points behind the Tigers. (Collegiate Water Polo Association)

Then there is Navy. The Midshipmen entering at No. 19 may not affect the national-championship conversation today, but it matters because it is another example of a team earning movement through actual results rather than reputation.

The timing of all this could not be better. The MPSF begins September 18 at Stanford, and a field loaded with ranked programs will give us the first real opportunity to evaluate many of these teams under the same conditions.

— Water Polo Insider

No. 1 UCLA 13, No. 14 UC Santa Barbara 9

UCLA controlled this game in the opening eight minutes.

The Bruins jumped out 5-0 and carried a 9-3 advantage into halftime. UCSB settled in defensively after the break, holding UCLA to two goals in each of the final two quarters and scoring the final four goals, but the early separation was too much to overcome.

The 5-0 opening changed the way UCSB had to manage its possessions. Playing from that far behind reduces the margin for empty front-court trips and puts additional pressure on every center entry, extra-man opportunity and perimeter shot.

UCLA had the luxury of playing with the scoreboard. The Bruins could stay patient offensively, maintain balance behind the ball and make UCSB manufacture the comeback one possession at a time.

The final margin was four, but UCLA established control in the first quarter.

No. 1 UCLA 24, No. 15 LMU 12

LMU gave UCLA a much different first quarter, staying within 5-4 after eight minutes.

The Bruins created their first real separation before halftime, closing the second quarter with four consecutive goals to take a 10-5 lead. From there, UCLA continued to accelerate, scoring 14 goals in the second half.

The important stretch came when the game was still competitive.

LMU had stayed within one and was still able to operate within its normal front-court structure. UCLA’s run before halftime changed that. Once the margin reached five, every empty LMU possession carried more weight, while UCLA could continue attacking without forcing the game.

Twenty-four goals against a ranked opponent will get attention, but the more significant part was UCLA’s ability to create separation after LMU played them essentially even through the opening quarter.

The Bruins finished Saturday 8-0.

No. 2 USC 24, No. 13 UC Irvine 15

USC opened with five unanswered goals, but UC Irvine did not allow the game to get away early.

The Anteaters responded and cut USC’s advantage to two during the second quarter. The Trojans rebuilt the margin to 11-7 by halftime before taking complete control with an eight-goal third quarter.

That third period was the decisive stretch.
UCI had absorbed USC’s opening run and forced the Trojans to establish control a second time. USC responded without allowing the game to become hurried.

The Trojans continued producing quality possessions and eventually overwhelmed Irvine with sustained offensive pressure.

Once USC started stacking goals in the third, UCI was forced to play faster and with less margin for error. Empty possessions became increasingly costly, and the game moved beyond the point where Irvine could methodically work its way back one possession at a time.

USC’s most impressive sequence wasn’t the 5-0 opening. It was the response after Irvine responded.

No. 11 San Jose State 13, T-No. 18 Harvard 9

San Jose State led 7-4 at halftime, but Harvard worked its way back into the game and entered the fourth trailing only 8-7.

At that point, the first-half margin was irrelevant.
San Jose State responded with a 5-2 fourth quarter.

That was the difference.

With only one goal separating the teams, possession quality became critical. San Jose State stayed composed, defended without allowing Harvard to complete the comeback and converted enough opportunities at the other end to reopen the game.

Harvard did the difficult work of turning a three-goal halftime deficit into a one-possession game.

San Jose State never allowed it to become a tie game.

The Spartans closed when they had to.

No. 12 Princeton 15, No. 11 San Jose State 11

Princeton’s win over San Jose State was one of Saturday’s most significant Top 20 results.

The teams were separated by one position in the national rankings and very little in the water during the first half.

San Jose State worked the game to 4-4 before Princeton scored with one second remaining in the opening quarter. The Tigers carried only a 7-6 advantage into halftime.

Princeton stayed patient through the competitive opening rather than trying to manufacture separation that wasn’t there. The Tigers continued valuing possessions, working through the front court and making San Jose State defend before eventually creating the margin in the second half.

The end-of-quarter goal in the first was also significant. In close games, goals in the final seconds of a period carry additional value. San Jose State had worked its way back to even only to begin the next quarter trailing again.

Princeton eventually turned a one-goal halftime advantage into a four-goal victory.

For a team ranked No. 12, beating No. 11 head-to-head is exactly the type of result that strengthens a national resume.

No. 12 Princeton 16, Navy 15

Princeton’s first game Saturday required a completely different type of performance.

The Tigers led Navy 4-3 after the first quarter, but neither team could create enough separation to put the game away. Navy remained within striking distance throughout the fourth before Princeton held on 16-15.

This was a possession-management game.
In a one-goal contest, forced center entries, early perimeter shots, unnecessary exclusions and poor balance behind the ball become magnified.

Princeton had to continue working through complete possessions while protecting a narrow margin against a Navy team receiving votes in the national poll.

There was no decisive knockout run.
Princeton simply made enough winning plays over 32 minutes to leave with the result.

Those games become valuable later in the season. A team learns far more about late-clock execution and possession discipline in a 16-15 game than it does protecting an eight-goal fourth-quarter lead.

No. 14 UC Santa Barbara 13, No. 15 LMU 12

This was Saturday’s film-room game.

LMU led 5-3 after the first quarter and 8-5 at halftime.

UCSB completely changed the game in the third.
The Gauchos held LMU scoreless for the entire period while scoring four goals of their own, turning an 8-5 deficit into a 9-8 advantage.

That eight-minute stretch changed everything. UCSB began stacking defensive stops while LMU could no longer convert possessions into goals. A three-goal halftime cushion disappeared in one quarter.

The game eventually reached 12-12 with 1:39 remaining.

Then came the defining sequence.
LMU appeared to score the go-ahead goal, but an offensive foul erased it. Instead of defending a one-goal LMU lead, UCSB received possession with the game still tied.

The Gauchos scored the winner with 37 seconds remaining.

The game was also heavily influenced by special situations, making the work around center particularly important. Position before the entry, defender leverage and the ability to earn and convert exclusions all shaped the flow of the game.

But the defining stretch remained UCSB’s third-quarter shutout. The defining possession came late.

LMU went from an apparent go-ahead goal to defending the possession that ultimately decided the game.

No. 17 Santa Clara 16, Bucknell 10

The final score does not accurately reflect how competitive this game was entering the fourth quarter.

Santa Clara led only 10-9 after Bucknell won the third period 4-2.

Then the Broncos closed the door.

Santa Clara scored six unanswered goals in the fourth and did not allow Bucknell to score.

A 6-0 quarter with the game already decided is one thing. Producing it while protecting a one-goal lead is entirely different.

Santa Clara stacked defensive stops and converted them into separation at the other end. Bucknell entered the quarter one possession from tying the game and finished six goals behind.

The Broncos turned a one-possession game into a comfortable final in eight minutes.

No. 17 Santa Clara 13, T-No. 18 Harvard 11

Santa Clara faced the opposite situation later Saturday. This time, the Broncos entered the fourth trailing Harvard 9-8.

Again, Santa Clara controlled the final eight minutes. The Broncos won the fourth 5-2 and took the game 13-11.

Across its two Saturday fourth quarters, Santa Clara outscored Bucknell and Harvard 11-2.
The circumstances make that number even more impressive.

Against Bucknell, Santa Clara was protecting a one-goal lead.

Against Harvard, Santa Clara was chasing one.

The Broncos showed they could manage both situations without losing structure. They stayed composed while ahead and found the necessary urgency while behind.

Two close games reached the fourth quarter.
Santa Clara owned both finishes.

T-No. 18 Brown 14, Iona 10

Brown established control early with a 4-2 first quarter and never surrendered the lead.

Playing from ahead allowed the Bears to remain disciplined defensively. There was no need to gamble for steals or manufacture transition opportunities. Brown could protect the middle, contest the perimeter and force Iona to work through complete possessions.

That matters in conference play, where familiarity often reduces easy opportunities and places more emphasis on execution.

Brown established the margin early and made Iona spend the rest of the game trying to erase it.

The Bears never allowed that run to develop and opened NWPC play with a 14-10 victory.

No. 20 Saint Mary’s 19, Wagner 11

Saint Mary’s responded immediately after Friday’s loss to Princeton.

The Gaels led Wagner 6-2 after the first quarter and 9-3 at halftime.

That was the response Saint Mary’s needed during a tournament weekend.

The Gaels established control from the opening period and never allowed Wagner to put together the sustained run necessary to change the game. With a six-goal halftime advantage, Saint Mary’s could continue working through its offense without chasing quick goals or giving Wagner unnecessary transition opportunities.

The Gaels put Friday behind them quickly and started Saturday with a convincing 19-11 win.

No. 20 Saint Mary’s 16, Mount St. Mary’s 6

Saint Mary’s followed with an even more controlled performance. The Gaels led 9-4 at halftime and allowed only two goals over the final 16 minutes.

The second half was the most impressive part.
Teams can become loose once the margin reaches five or six. Defenders begin reaching. Players leave early looking for transition.

Offenses settle for the first available shot rather than finishing the possession.Saint Mary’s maintained its defensive structure instead.

The Gaels continued producing stops while extending the margin at the other end, turning a five-goal halftime advantage into a 16-6 final.

It completed a 2-0 Saturday for Saint Mary’s.

What We Learned Saturday

UCLA showed it can solve different games. The Bruins buried UCSB with a 5-0 opening quarter, then had to play through a competitive start against LMU before creating separation.

USC showed its ability to respond when momentum changed. The Trojans opened 5-0, watched UCI work back into the game and then produced eight third-quarter goals to take control again.

Princeton had one of Saturday’s most valuable days. The Tigers survived a 16-15 game against Navy and then earned a head-to-head victory over the team ranked directly above them.

UCSB produced Saturday’s best comeback, turning an 8-5 halftime deficit against LMU into a 13-12 victory through a third-quarter shutout and late-game execution.

Santa Clara was the best fourth-quarter team on the slate. The Broncos outscored Bucknell and Harvard 11-2 over their two final periods, closing one game from ahead and the other from behind.

Saint Mary’s responded to Friday’s loss with 35 goals and two victories Saturday, while Brown opened conference play by establishing an early lead and controlling the game from in front.

By November, nobody remembers who looked dangerous in September.

The scouting is sharper.
The water gets heavier.
Every possession carries consequence.

September reveals the talent.

November reveals the teams built to win.

— Water Polo Insider

Friday, September 11 delivered the first real pressure points of the college men’s water polo weekend.

No. 1 UCLA 16, No. 13 UC Irvine 14

UCLA won, but UC Irvine made the top-ranked Bruins earn all 16 goals.

UCI led 3-2 early before UCLA took control of the first half. The Bruins put together the game’s most important defensive stretch, holding the Anteaters scoreless for 11:04 and building a 9-4 halftime advantage.

At that point, UCLA appeared to have created enough separation.

UCI had other ideas.

The Anteaters scored five goals in the third quarter and five more in the fourth, putting 10 on UCLA after halftime. Twice inside the final four minutes, Irvine pulled within two goals.

UCLA answered both times, with Ryder Dodd delivering two critical goals in the final 3:21 to help close out the 16-14 victory.

The advantage numbers help explain why UCI stayed in it. UCLA converted 8-of-11 on 6-on-5, while Irvine was nearly identical at 8-of-12.

UCLA also converted both of its five-meter opportunities. The two goalkeeper units each finished with 10 saves. UCLA improved to 6-0, while UCI dropped to 7-2.

UCLA’s 11-minute defensive shutdown ultimately created the winning margin, but the second half should get UCI plenty of attention.

Putting 14 goals on the No. 1 team in the country isn’t insignificant, and neither is scoring 10 after halftime. More importantly, these weren’t meaningless goals after UCLA had put the game away. UCI repeatedly got itself back within striking distance and forced UCLA to execute late.

For UCLA, there is value in having to finish a game like this. For Irvine, there may be even more value in proving it can generate offense and stay in the water with No. 1 for 32 minutes.
UCLA remains No. 1. UCI looked better than a routine No. 13 opponent.

No. 4 CAL 18, No. 10 Pacific 7

If UCLA-UCI was Friday’s fight, Cal-Pacific was Friday’s statement.

The official Cal Men’s Water Polo account confirmed an 18-7 final at Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley.

An 11-goal win over the No. 10 team in the country deserves attention on its own.

The context makes it even more interesting.
Pacific had already shown an ability to compete with teams near the top of the rankings.

The Tigers pushed No. 5 Fordham to golden goal in a 15-14 loss and later stayed within two of No. 1 UCLA in a 13-11 loss.

Cal didn’t allow Pacific to produce another close result.

The Bears entered Friday already carrying ranked victories from the opening weeks, including wins over UC San Diego, Harvard and San Jose State.

Cal had beaten No. 10 San Jose State 14-10 at the Aggie Roundup just six days earlier.

Now add an 18-7 win over No. 10 Pacific.
Coach’s read: The margin is the story.

Pacific had already demonstrated that it could stay attached to elite teams. Cal created separation instead.

That’s what makes this result different from simply adding another win to the schedule.

When the No. 4 team beats No. 10 by 11, the conversation should extend beyond whether Cal belongs at No. 4.

The question becomes how much separation actually exists between the Bears and the three programs currently ranked ahead of them.

It’s September, so there is a lot of water polo left. But championship-level teams need performances that establish a ceiling.
Cal gave us one Friday night.

No. 5 Fordham 16, No. 9 Pepperdine 12

Fordham’s latest win was considerably more competitive than the four-goal final suggests.

Pepperdine scored first, but Fordham eventually built the lead to 9-4 during the second quarter.
Instead of folding, the Waves started taking the game back.

Pepperdine cut the deficit to 9-7 by halftime and continued closing in during the third. With 2:04 remaining in the period, the Waves completed the comeback and tied it 10-10.

Fordham immediately faced a different game.
The Rams responded before the end of the third to regain an 11-10 lead. Then came the stretch that decided it.

Fordham converted three consecutive extra-man opportunities in the fourth quarter, turning a one-goal advantage into a 14-10 lead.

Pepperdine responded with two 7-on-6 goals to make it 14-12, but Fordham scored the final two.
The Rams won the fourth 5-2 and improved to 5-0.

This might tell us more about Fordham than another eight- or ten-goal victory would.

The Rams had a five-goal lead disappear. Pepperdine had momentum. Entering the fourth, it was essentially a new game.

Fordham didn’t start forcing low-percentage offense. The Rams generated exclusions, got into their advantage offense and converted three straight 6-on-5 possessions when the game was sitting on a one-goal margin.

That’s winning water polo late in a ranked game.
Fordham’s early body of work now includes victories over Pacific, UC Davis and Pepperdine.

The Rams have been tested in different ways and continue finding answers.

No. 8 UC San Diego 19, Chapman 8

UC San Diego began its Friday doubleheader at the Cal State Fullerton tournament exactly as a Top-10 team should against a Division III opponent.

The Tritons scored the game’s first four goals and never trailed in a 19-8 victory over Chapman.

UCSD’s depth was evident throughout the game. Thirteen different Tritons scored, and the team finished with advantages of 33-22 in shots and 17-7 in steals.

The Tritons also split goalkeeper duties, giving the staff an opportunity to distribute minutes throughout the roster.

This isn’t a result that changes UCSD’s national standing, and it shouldn’t be treated like one.
What matters is how the Tritons handled the assignment.

When a ranked team has two games in one day and is heavily favored in the opener, the objective is to establish control quickly, get meaningful minutes throughout the roster and avoid unnecessarily extending the primary rotation.

UCSD accomplished all three.

No. 8 UC San Diego 16, Cal State Fullerton 9

The second game required more from UCSD.
The Tritons established an 8-4 halftime lead, but Fullerton responded after the break and won the third period 3-2.

That gave UCSD something it didn’t get against Chapman: a little pressure.

The response was convincing.

UC San Diego closed with a 6-2 fourth quarter, restoring control and finishing the day with a 16-9 victory. The sweep improved the Tritons to 7-1.

There was also an obvious area for improvement.

UCSD finished just 3-for-13 on 6-on-5.

Fullerton wasn’t much better at 3-for-12.

The fourth quarter is the positive. The extra-man offense is the teaching point.

Good teams aren’t going to prevent every opponent from making a run. What matters is the response. Fullerton won the third, and UCSD immediately answered with its best offensive quarter.

But 3-for-13 on 6-on-5 is difficult to survive against elite opposition. Against another Top-10 team, leaving that many advantage possessions unfinished can change the entire game.

UCSD won comfortably and still left Fullerton with something useful to take back to film.

No. 11 San Jose State 18, Wagner 6

San Jose State opened the Princeton Invitational with an 18-6 win over Wagner.

The Spartans generated offense throughout the roster and were able to distribute the workload rather than depending heavily on one group.

SJSU’s official report also noted the Spartans’ ability to draw exclusions against Wagner, another positive sign for an offense preparing for stronger opposition later in the weekend.

In isolation, beating Wagner by 12 doesn’t tell us where San Jose State belongs nationally. But tournament management matters.

The Spartans took control, spread minutes and avoided turning the first game of a doubleheader into something physically expensive.

That becomes more important when ranked opponents are waiting on the schedule.

No. 11 San Jose State 22, LIU 10

San Jose State followed its morning win with another offensive performance against LIU, winning 22-10.

Combined with the Wagner result, SJSU finished Friday with 40 goals scored and 16 allowed across two games and improved to 3-1.
That’s a productive day.

It’s also important not to overstate it. The better measurement of San Jose State comes against the ranked competition waiting at the Princeton Invitational, including No. 18 Harvard and No. 12 Princeton.

Forty goals catches your eye. The next games tell us what it means.

Against stronger defensive teams, counterattack opportunities shrink, exclusions become harder to generate and poor possessions are punished more aggressively at the other end.

SJSU did everything it needed to do Friday.
Now comes the part of the weekend that can actually move the Spartans nationally.

No. 12 Princeton 15, No. 20 Saint Mary’s 8

Princeton opened its home invitational with a controlled 15-8 victory over No. 20 Saint Mary’s.

The Tigers established separation early, taking a 6-3 advantage through the opening period and a 9-5 lead into halftime.

Princeton then tightened the game defensively.
Saint Mary’s managed only three goals in the entire second half, while Princeton continued adding to its lead.

The Tigers entered the weekend 3-0 and added their fourth consecutive victory with the ranked win. Saint Mary’s fell to 3-5.

There wasn’t one dramatic stretch that decided this game. That’s probably what Princeton’s staff will like most.

The Tigers established control, protected it and never gave Saint Mary’s the high-scoring quarter necessary to reopen the contest.

For No. 12 playing No. 20 at home, that’s the expected result. But expectations still have to be executed. Princeton did that cleanly.

More Top 20 college men’s water polo is coming Saturday, September 12. All times Pacific.

5:00 a.m.
No. 20 Saint Mary’s vs. Wagner

5:30 a.m.
T-No. 18 Brown at Iona

6:30 a.m.
No. 12 Princeton vs. Navy

8:00 a.m.
No. 11 San Jose State vs. T-No. 18 Harvard

9:30 a.m.
No. 17 Santa Clara vs. Bucknell

10:00 a.m.
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara

11:00 a.m.
No. 20 Saint Mary’s vs. Mount St. Mary’s

12:30 p.m.
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 15 Loyola Marymount

1:00 p.m.
No. 2 USC vs. No. 13 UC Irvine

2:00 p.m.
No. 11 San Jose State at No. 12 Princeton

2:30 p.m.
No. 14 UC Santa Barbara vs. No. 15 Loyola Marymount

3:30 p.m.
No. 17 Santa Clara vs. T-No. 18 Harvard

More Polo News: Follow r/WaterPoloInsider

The action begins Thursday, September 10, in Riverside and builds through Sunday, September 13, with nationally ranked programs taking the water from Southern California to Berkeley, Davis and Stockton, and across the country in the Bronx and Princeton.

Four days, multiple ranked matchups and no shortage of opportunities for contenders to make an early statement.

UCLA, USC, Stanford and Cal remain the top four, while No. 5 Fordham has earned its place firmly in the national conversation.

This weekend gives Fordham another opportunity to reinforce its Top-5 position when No. 9 Pepperdine and No. 11 San Jose State visit the Bronx.

Behind them, No. 6 UC Davis remains within striking distance of the national leaders, while No. 8 UC San Diego sits firmly inside the Top 10.

RANKINGS NOTE

Rankings throughout this preview reflect the September 9 CWPA Men’s Varsity Top 20.

All game times are Pacific Time.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
⏰ 2:00 p.m. — No. 16 California Baptist vs. Redlands
📍 Lancer Aquatics Center — Riverside
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

California Baptist opens Week 3 against a Redlands team it defeated 18–7 five days earlier at the Inland Empire Classic.

For CBU, this is less about proving it can win the matchup and more about maintaining the standard expected from a ranked program.

The Lancers should establish two-meter defense immediately, pressure the perimeter and turn stops into controlled transition.

Offensively, the priority should be clean center entry and high-quality possessions rather than forcing the first available shot.

Against an opponent they have already handled, turnovers and unnecessary exclusions are the quickest ways to let the game become more competitive than necessary.

⏰ 6:00 p.m. — No. 16 California Baptist vs. Biola
📍 Lancer Aquatics Center — Riverside
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

CBU returns four hours later for the second half of its Thursday doubleheader.

The challenge changes in game two.
Rotation management, recovery and defensive concentration become part of the equation.

Fatigue often appears first in counter-defense — slower recognition after a turnover, poor matchup communication and exclusions caused by arriving half a stroke late.

CBU should have enough depth to distribute minutes. The larger objective is maintaining the same defensive shape, communication and front-court execution in the evening game.

For a ranked program, a good Thursday is more than finishing 2–0. It is playing both games to the same standard.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
⏰ 9:30 a.m. — No. 11 San Jose State vs. Wagner
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

San Jose State begins a demanding five-game East Coast swing Friday morning.

The Spartans need to think beyond the opening game.

Harvard and Princeton await Saturday before Fordham on Sunday, so the cleanest path here is creating separation through defense without unnecessarily extending the primary rotation.

Pressure the ball, control center, generate counterattack from stops and manage the legs.
That is tournament water polo.

⏰ 12:30 p.m. — No. 12 Princeton vs. No. 20 Saint Mary’s
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 ESPN+

Saint Mary’s continues an ambitious inaugural varsity season against one of the East Coast’s established programs.

The Gaels cannot afford empty possessions. Poor-angle perimeter shots and rushed entries can become immediate Princeton transition before Saint Mary’s has its defense organized.

The better approach is productive center entry, even when it does not directly produce a goal.
Making Princeton collapse, earning exclusions and creating extra-player opportunities can reduce Princeton’s transition chances.

For the Tigers, perimeter pressure and denying easy two-meter entry should allow them to dictate the defensive terms.

⏰ 1:00 p.m. — No. 8 UC San Diego vs. Chapman
📍 Titan Aquatics Center — Fullerton
📊 Live stats
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

UC San Diego opens a Friday doubleheader before returning later that evening against host Cal State Fullerton.

That makes the afternoon game partly about efficiency. UCSD should establish defensive control early, use its depth and avoid unnecessary minutes from the core rotation.

The Tritons do not need to force transition on every possession; sound defensive possessions and clean front-court execution should create separation naturally.

The larger objective is reaching the evening game with the defensive legs intact.

⏰ 2:00 p.m. — No. 17 Santa Clara vs. Wagner
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

After dealing with UCLA’s pace and pressure last weekend, Santa Clara moves into a matchup where the Broncos should be able to dictate more of the terms.

They should win first contact at center, pressure the ball and create transition out of defensive stops.

The important part is establishing control without becoming loose offensively. Tournament games become unnecessarily difficult when poor possessions keep an opponent within one or two goals.

⏰ 2:00 p.m. — No. 1 UCLA at No. 13 UC Irvine
📍 Anteater Aquatics Complex — Irvine
📊 Live stats
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

For UC Irvine, everything begins with counter-defense.

UCLA punishes poor possessions quickly. A turnover, field block or low-percentage shot can become numbers going the other direction before the defense is organized.

The Anteaters need to make UCLA play against six defenders as often as possible.

UCI also needs productive center possessions. Even when the ball into two meters does not become a goal, drawing an exclusion can slow UCLA’s transition game and create 6-on-5 opportunities.

For UCLA, patience matters. The Bruins do not have to force tempo. If they control center defensively, stay out of unnecessary exclusion trouble and make Irvine manufacture goals from the perimeter, UCLA can gradually impose itself.

Insider’s read: Irvine’s best chance is to make this a half-court game and force UCLA to earn separation possession by possession.

⏰ 3:00 p.m. — No. 9 Pepperdine at No. 5 Fordham
📍 Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center — Bronx, New York
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

This is one of the premier games of Week 3, and Fordham enters it as far more than an East Coast measuring stick.

The Rams are 4–0, already own quality victories over Pacific and UC Davis and have established themselves as one of the country’s most consistent programs outside the traditional California powers.

Five consecutive MAWPC championships and back-to-back national semifinal appearances have earned Fordham its No. 5 ranking.

Pepperdine enters the Bronx facing a legitimate national contender. Fordham should look to make Pepperdine defend complete possessions.

Establishing two meters, creating movement away from center and forcing the Waves to defend multiple actions can test a Pepperdine defense that has already faced significant pressure against elite Western competition.

Fordham also has the ability to punish poor possessions at the other end. Pepperdine cannot afford to settle into an outside-shooting game in which misses and field blocks generate transition opportunities for the Rams.

The Waves need productive center entry, disciplined spacing and enough patience to move Fordham’s defense before attacking.

If the game remains within one or two possessions entering the fourth quarter, 6-on-5 execution, goalkeeper play and late-possession decision-making could determine the result.

Insider’s read: This is a legitimate Top-10 national matchup. Fordham has another opportunity to validate its No. 5 ranking against a ranked Western opponent, while Pepperdine can earn one of the most valuable road victories available anywhere in the country this weekend.

⏰ 3:30 p.m. — No. 11 San Jose State vs. LIU
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

San Jose State returns for its second Friday game.

This is where the Spartans have to balance winning the game with protecting enough defensive energy for Saturday.

Good tournament teams simplify these situations: protect the ball, win center defense, avoid unnecessary counter fouls and use the bench.

With five games in three days, every wasted possession eventually carries a physical cost.

⏰ 5:30 p.m. — No. 8 UC San Diego at Cal State Fullerton
📍 Titan Aquatics Center — Fullerton
📺 ESPN+
📊 Live stats

This is UCSD’s second game of the day and the more demanding portion of the doubleheader.

The Tritons need to avoid allowing fatigue to affect their counter-defense. Fullerton should look for every opportunity to attack before UCSD becomes organized.

For the Tritons, ball security becomes important. A controlled front-court possession does more than create a scoring opportunity — it gives the defense time to recover and organize before the next transition.

UCSD should want the game played from its defense outward.

⏰ 7:00 p.m. — No. 4 Cal vs. No. 10 Pacific
📍 Spieker Aquatics Complex — Berkeley
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

Pacific has already demonstrated that it can make national-title contenders uncomfortable.

Cal needs to control two meters without overcommitting its help defense. Pacific has enough perimeter quality to punish a defense that collapses too aggressively.

At the other end, Cal should make Pacific defend multiple actions within one possession — center entry, movement after the entry, re-entry, drives and then the extra pass when the defense rotates.

Pacific cannot afford poor perimeter shots that immediately become Cal transition opportunities.

Insider’s read: Cal’s Pacific–UC Davis sequence gives the Bears one of the strongest two-game résumé opportunities of Week 3.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
⏰ 5:00 a.m. — No. 20 Saint Mary’s vs. Wagner
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

Saint Mary’s returns at 8:00 a.m. Eastern after facing Princeton Friday.

The Gaels need to reset quickly.

This should be a game where Saint Mary’s establishes center early, stays out of unnecessary exclusion trouble and creates enough transition offense to avoid spending every possession in the front court.

Early tournament games often expose which team is mentally ready at the opening sprint.

⏰ 5:30 a.m. — T-No. 18 Brown vs. Iona
📍 New York Athletic Club at Travers Island — Pelham, New York
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

This is a neutral-site matchup at Travers Island.

Brown’s issue entering Week 3 is consistency.
The Bears should want to control the pace through defense rather than allowing the game to become a high-possession exchange.

Fronting center, helping selectively and forcing Iona to score over an organized perimeter defense would put the game in Brown’s preferred structure.

⏰ 6:30 a.m. — No. 12 Princeton vs. Navy
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 ESPN+

This should be physical.

Navy brings conditioning, depth and a willingness to defend through contact. Princeton wants to establish front-court offense through center and create exclusions.

Navy’s priority has to be denying clean two-meter entry. If the Midshipmen can keep the ball outside and prevent Princeton from generating easy transition goals, they can force the Tigers into longer possessions.

⏰ 8:00 a.m. — No. 11 San Jose State vs. T-No. 18 Harvard
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

These teams recently saw one another, giving Harvard something valuable: current film.

The Crimson can identify where the first matchup broke down and adjust center entry, driving lanes and transition spacing.

San Jose State has to expect something different. The danger for the Spartans is assuming the same defensive looks will automatically produce the same result.

⏰ 9:30 a.m. — No. 17 Santa Clara vs. Bucknell
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

Possession management should matter.
The Broncos need to avoid offensive fouls and low-percentage shots that allow Bucknell to attack before the defense is set.

Santa Clara should be patient enough to establish center, force the defense to collapse and then attack the weak side of the possession.

⏰ 11:00 a.m. — No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara*
📍 Spieker Aquatics Center — Los Angeles
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

UCLA’s host schedule lists an 11:00 a.m. start, while UC Santa Barbara’s schedule currently lists 10:00 a.m. This preview uses UCLA’s host listing.

On the water, UCSB has enough offensive talent to score. The issue against UCLA is what happens immediately after possession changes.

The Gauchos need to slow the first outlet, identify matchups early and make UCLA attack a set defense.

For UCLA, defensive pressure should create offense naturally. If the Bruins force rushed perimeter attempts and poor center entries, transition opportunities will follow.

⏰ 11:00 a.m. — No. 20 Saint Mary’s vs. Mount St. Mary’s
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

This is game three of Saint Mary’s East Coast trip.

By this stage of a tournament, roster depth becomes tactical rather than merely developmental.

Center defenders and perimeter defenders accumulate physical work quickly. Saint Mary’s needs intelligent substitutions and enough possession discipline to prevent tired legs from turning into exclusion trouble.

⏰ 12:30 p.m. — No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 15 Loyola Marymount*
📍 Spieker Aquatics Center — Los Angeles
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

UCLA’s host schedule lists 12:30 p.m., while Loyola Marymount’s visiting schedule currently lists noon. This preview uses the host UCLA time.

For UCLA, the short turnaround from UCSB is the primary storyline.

This is a test of depth and whether the defensive standard remains unchanged when personnel rotate.

LMU should try to establish center and make UCLA defend physical half-court possessions rather than allowing the Bruins to repeatedly attack in transition.

For the Bruins, the objective is not simply fresh bodies. It is fresh bodies operating within the same defensive system.

⏰ 1:00 p.m. — No. 2 USC vs. No. 13 UC Irvine
📍 Uytengsu Aquatics Center — Los Angeles
📺 Overnght
📊 Live stats

UC Irvine will have played No. 1 UCLA less than 24 hours earlier. That changes the matchup.

USC should test UCI’s legs immediately by pushing transition, attacking mismatches before the defense becomes organized and using its depth to maintain tempo.

For Irvine, ball security is essential. Giving USC free counterattack opportunities after playing UCLA the afternoon before is an extremely difficult formula to survive.

The Anteaters need to make USC score against six defenders.

⏰ 2:00 p.m. — No. 12 Princeton vs. No. 11 San Jose State
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 ESPN+

This is one of the most balanced ranked matchups of Week 3.

San Jose State brings speed and perimeter offense. Princeton has the home pool and wants to establish the game through center.

If Princeton consistently gets the ball into two meters and earns exclusions, San Jose State will spend too much time defending 6-on-5.

If the Spartans can front center, deny clean entry and turn those stops into transition, the matchup moves toward their strengths.

The other variable is workload. This is already San Jose State’s fourth game of the trip.

⏰ 2:30 p.m. — No. 14 UC Santa Barbara vs. No. 15 Loyola Marymount
📍 Spieker Aquatics Center — Los Angeles
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

Both teams will be returning to the water after facing UCLA.

The first challenge is psychological as much as physical: reset quickly.

UCSB wants tempo and offensive production. LMU should be interested in reducing unnecessary possessions and forcing the Gauchos into a more deliberate half-court game.

With the teams ranked No. 14 and No. 15, this is also a clean head-to-head comparison for the next poll.

⏰ 3:30 p.m. — No. 17 Santa Clara vs. T-No. 18 Harvard
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

This game carries real ranking value.
Santa Clara and Harvard are separated by only one position in the September 9 poll.

That puts additional weight on the details that decide tight water polo games: goalkeeper saves, center exclusions, turnovers and power-play conversion.

Neither team wants to give the next poll a simple head-to-head reason to move the other ahead.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
⏰ 5:00 a.m. — No. 20 Saint Mary’s vs. Bucknell
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

Saint Mary’s closes its four-game East Coast weekend at 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

The Gaels need to protect possession, maintain counter-defense and prevent fatigue from producing avoidable exclusions.

Late-tournament games are often won by the team that makes fewer bad decisions rather than the team trying to make more spectacular ones.

⏰ 8:00 a.m. — T-No. 18 Harvard vs. Navy
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

Navy is outside this week’s Top 20 but remains relevant because Harvard enters tied at No. 18.

Expect a physical defensive game. Both programs are comfortable defending and neither wants the opposition consistently operating through center.

That should increase the importance of special teams. When two defenses remove each other’s preferred front-court actions, 6-on-5 efficiency can become the separator.

⏰ 8:00 a.m. — No. 11 San Jose State at No. 5 Fordham
📍 Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center — Bronx, New York
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

This is another significant Week 3 matchup.
It is also a rematch of last season’s National Collegiate Championship quarterfinal, which Fordham won 13–9.

San Jose State arrives under an unusual physical workload: this will be the Spartans’ fifth game in three days. Fordham should test that immediately.

The Rams can make San Jose State defend physically through center, extend possessions and force the Spartans to repeatedly transition from offense to defense. By Sunday morning, those additional defensive meters matter.

San Jose State’s response has to be possession efficiency. A poor shot or turnover is costly twice — it eliminates an offensive opportunity and immediately forces tired legs back into defensive transition.

The game is equally important for Fordham.
The Rams are No. 5 in the country. They have earned that position through sustained conference dominance, consecutive national semifinal appearances and a 4–0 start.

This weekend provides two ranked home opponents against which Fordham can further establish itself among the programs capable of challenging the traditional national hierarchy.

Insider’s read: Fordham has an opportunity to make one of the strongest statements of Week 3. Wins over No. 9 Pepperdine and No. 11 San Jose State would add two more ranked victories and further support the Rams’ position among the nation’s elite programs.

⏰ 9:30 a.m. — No. 9 Pepperdine at No. 12 Princeton
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 ESPN+

This is Pepperdine’s second significant opportunity on its East Coast trip.

Princeton wants controlled front-court offense, productive center entry and enough defensive discipline to stop Pepperdine from creating transition.

Pepperdine has perimeter firepower, but the Waves cannot become overly dependent on outside shooting.

They need to attack center, force Princeton’s defense to move and then find the extra pass when the defense collapses.

Insider’s read: A strong showing against both Fordham and Princeton could materially improve Pepperdine’s early-season resume.

⏰ 12:00 p.m. — No. 6 UC Davis vs. No. 4 Cal
📍 Schaal Aquatics Center — Davis
📊 Live stats
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

This is the highest-ranked head-to-head matchup of Week 3.

Cal’s first challenge is dealing with Davis at two meters without producing a constant stream of exclusions.

The Aggies want physical front-court possessions. Cal needs to defend that without losing perimeter balance.

For Davis, counter-defense is critical. Cal has enough speed and skill throughout the lineup to punish a team before its defense becomes organized.

This game should reward whichever team creates the better balance between interior offense and perimeter movement while remaining disciplined after turnovers.

Insider’s read: Cal’s Pacific–UC Davis set represents one of the strongest opportunities for a Top-4 team to consolidate its national position this week.

⏰ 12:30 p.m. — No. 12 Princeton vs. Mount St. Mary’s
📍 DeNunzio Pool — Princeton, New Jersey
📺 ESPN+

Princeton closes a five-game home weekend only three hours after facing Pepperdine.
That makes this a depth test.

The Tigers cannot allow the emotional and physical investment of the morning matchup to produce a decline in defensive standards.

The rotation may change.
The structure should not.

⏰ 1:00 p.m. — No. 10 Pacific vs. No. 3 Stanford
📍 Chris Kjeldsen Pool at the Douglass M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center — Stockton
📊 Live stats
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

Stanford has looked like one of the most complete teams in the country through the opening weeks.

Pacific, however, has already shown that elite opponents cannot expect an easy afternoon in Stockton.

The Tigers need to make Stanford attack six-on-six. Transition defense is critical because the Cardinals have the size, speed and depth to turn a few consecutive mistakes into immediate separation.

For Stanford, establishing center early forces Pacific into difficult choices: allow the entry or bring help and expose shooters on the perimeter.

Insider’s read: Pacific gets two major opportunities this week — Cal on Friday and Stanford on Sunday. One victory would carry substantial ranking value.

⏰ 3:00 p.m. — No. 10 Pacific vs. Cuesta
📍 Chris Kjeldsen Pool at the Douglass M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center — Stockton
📺 No confirmed video stream currently listed

Pacific returns only two hours after facing Stanford.

This becomes a recovery and depth test.
After the physical and emotional investment required against Stanford, Pacific should distribute minutes while maintaining its defensive organization.

The ranked matchup may be over.
The standard should not be.

IDLE IN WEEK 3
No. 7 Long Beach State
Long Beach State has no game scheduled from September 10–13.

The Beach returns at the MPSF Invitational beginning September 18.

The open week gives Long Beach State time to recover, review the opening two weeks and prepare for a tournament that will provide multiple opportunities against nationally ranked opponents.

MUST-WATCH MATCHUPS

🔥 No. 4 Cal at No. 6 UC Davis — Sunday
The highest-ranked head-to-head matchup of the week and a direct test between two programs trying to remain within striking distance of the national leaders.

🔥 No. 9 Pepperdine at No. 5 Fordham — Friday
One of the weekend’s premier national matchups. Fordham is unbeaten, already owns victories over Pacific and UC Davis and gets another ranked Western opponent in its home pool.

🔥 No. 11 San Jose State at No. 5 Fordham — Sunday
A rematch of last season’s National Collegiate Championship quarterfinal. Fordham can complete an important two-win home weekend, while San Jose State will be playing its fifth game in three days.

🔥 No. 11 San Jose State vs. No. 12 Princeton — Saturday
Two closely ranked programs with contrasting paths to offense: Princeton wants productive center play and exclusions; San Jose State wants stops, speed and transition.

🔥 No. 9 Pepperdine at No. 12 Princeton — Sunday
Pepperdine’s second major road opportunity and another direct national-ranking comparison.

🔥 No. 4 Cal vs. No. 10 Pacific — Friday
Pacific has already demonstrated that it can compete with elite opponents. Cal cannot approach this as a routine home game.

🔥 No. 3 Stanford at No. 10 Pacific — Sunday
Stanford enters as the favorite, but Pacific gets the Cardinal in Stockton and has another opportunity to disrupt the Top 10.

🔥 No. 1 UCLA at No. 13 UC Irvine — Friday
The Anteaters need to keep UCLA out of transition and force the No. 1 Bruins into extended six-on-six possessions.

🔥 No. 2 USC vs. No. 13 UC Irvine — Saturday
The second half of an extremely difficult UCLA-USC assignment in less than 24 hours for Irvine.

HOW TO WATCH

ESPN+: Princeton vs. Saint Mary’s on Friday; Princeton vs. Navy and San Jose State on Saturday; Princeton vs. Pepperdine and Mount St. Mary’s on Sunday.

Overnght: USC vs. UC Irvine — Saturday, 1:00 p.m. PT.

Live stats currently confirmed: UC San Diego vs. Chapman, UC San Diego at Cal State Fullerton, UCLA at UC Irvine, Cal at UC Davis and Stanford at Pacific.

Fordham: No official video stream is currently listed for Friday’s Pepperdine game or Sunday’s San Jose State game at Messmore Aquatic Center.

For games labeled “No confirmed video stream currently listed,” no official team or host schedule showed a video option when rechecked on September 9. Additional coverage may be added closer to game time.

UCLA MINI INVITE SCHEDULE NOTE

There remain two conflicting official listings for Saturday’s games at Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles:

UCLA vs. UC Santa Barbara
UCLA: 11:00 a.m.

UC Santa Barbara: 10:00 a.m.

UCLA vs. Loyola Marymount
UCLA: 12:30 p.m.

Loyola Marymount: 12:00 p.m.

Because UCLA is the host and its current schedule uses the later times, this preview uses 11:00 a.m. for UCLA–UC Santa Barbara and 12:30 p.m. for UCLA–Loyola Marymount.

Fans attending either game should verify UCLA’s host schedule before traveling to Spieker Aquatics Center.

Follow r/WaterPoloInsider for Week 3 results, rankings and analysis.

The new CWPA Men’s Varsity Top 20 is out. The biggest story might be how little the top of the poll changed.

The entire Top 9 remains intact.

1. UCLA
Previous: No. 1

2. USC
Previous: No. 2

3. Stanford
Previous: No. 3

4. California
Previous: No. 4

5. Fordham
Previous: No. 5

6. UC Davis
Previous: No. 6

7. Long Beach State
Previous: No. 7

8. UC San Diego
Previous: No. 8

9. Pepperdine
Previous: No. 9

10. Pacific
Previous: T-No. 10

11. San Jose State
Previous: T-No. 10

12. Princeton
Previous: No. 12

13. UC Irvine
Previous: T-No. 13

14. UC Santa Barbara
Previous: T-No. 13

15. Loyola Marymount
Previous: No. 15

16. California Baptist
Previous: T-No. 16

17. Santa Clara
Previous: No. 19 ⬆️ 2

T-18. Harvard
Previous: No. 18

T-18. Brown
Previous: T-No. 16 ⬇️ 2

20. Saint Mary’s
Previous: T-No. 20

INSIDER’S READ

No. 1 UCLA — Still the team to beat
UCLA remains No. 1 with 99 poll points, but USC is sitting only three points behind at 96.
The Bruins did nothing last weekend to give voters a reason to move them.

UCLA beat Pacific 13-11, UC Davis 14-10 and Santa Clara 13-8, giving the Bruins three more victories over ranked opponents.

The UC Davis game was particularly useful.
Davis led 4-2 after the first quarter, forcing UCLA to adjust rather than simply playing from ahead. The Bruins got it back to 6-6 at halftime and eventually created separation.

From a coaching standpoint, those are valuable September minutes.

You learn more when somebody punches first.
UCLA showed it can absorb an early run, make adjustments and regain control without abandoning its structure.

Insider’s read: No. 1 is deserved. But 99-96 in poll points tells you this isn’t a runaway.

No. 2 USC — Winning, but Pepperdine gave the Trojans something to study

USC remains No. 2 after beating No. 9 Pepperdine 17-14.

The Trojans opened 3-0 and eventually built a 13-8 advantage, but Pepperdine refused to disappear.

The Waves got back within 16-14 with 1:33 remaining before USC finished the game.

USC goalkeeper Charles Mills recorded nine saves and four steals, while Pepperdine goalkeeper Max Smirnov made 16 saves.

USC’s Robert Lopez Duart finished with three goals and three assists, while Strahinja Krstic also scored three.

Pepperdine was able to create exclusion pressure and stay connected offensively. USC still had answers, but there will be plenty on film for the Trojans to clean up defensively.

Against championship-level opposition later in the season, repeatedly giving teams quality extra-man possessions can change a game quickly.

Insider’s read: USC continues to look like a legitimate No. 1 challenger. The offense is there. The defensive details will determine how high the ceiling ultimately goes.

No. 3 Stanford — Maybe the most interesting team in the country right now

Stanford didn’t move but its stock went up.

The Cardinal beat No. 9 Pepperdine 14-6 and then beat UC Santa Barbara 24-13.

The UCSB game tells the story.
It was only 11-9 at halftime.

Stanford then won the second half 13-4.
That’s the kind of split coaches notice.

When a competitive game becomes an 11-goal victory after halftime, you’re usually seeing more than hot shooting.

You’re seeing adjustments.

Better defensive possessions. Cleaner transition. Improved shot selection. More pressure after turnovers.

And eventually one team forcing the other to play the game on its terms.

Botond Balogh produced six goals and three assists against UCSB.

Insider’s read: Stanford at No. 3 is reasonable, but the gap between the Cardinal and the top two looks smaller on the water than the ranking numbers might suggest.

No. 4 Cal — Quietly putting together a serious resume.

Cal remains No. 4, and the Bears deserve more attention.

Cal beat Harvard 16-7 and San Jose State 14-10 at the Aggie Roundup.

Against Harvard, Beso Akhvlediani finished with seven goals, three assists and four steals.

That’s a complete water polo stat line.
Seven goals gets the headline. The assists and four steals tell you he was influencing possessions everywhere.

Cal’s early-season body of work continues to build.

Insider’s read: I would currently look at the championship picture as a Top 4 — UCLA, USC, Stanford and Cal — rather than treating Cal as clearly separated from the first three.

No. 5 Fordham — Now comes the fun part
Fordham remains No. 5.

That puts the Rams immediately behind the four California powers and ahead of UC Davis.

Early rankings always contain some preseason projection because teams haven’t played comparable schedules yet.

As ranked head-to-head results accumulate, that preseason component should gradually disappear.

Fordham will have opportunities to prove that No. 5 belongs to them.

Insider’s read: Don’t automatically move Fordham simply because the West Coast teams have played more high-profile games. Make somebody take No. 5 from them in the water.

No. 6 UC Davis — A loss that didn’t hurt the evaluation

UC Davis stays sixth despite losing 14-10 to No. 1 UCLA.

And I think that’s right.

Davis came out aggressively, led UCLA 4-2 after one and forced the Bruins to work their way back into the game.

Not every loss should send a team down the rankings.

Sometimes playing No. 1 competitively tells you more about a team than beating an overmatched opponent by 12.

Insider’s read: Davis remains dangerous. The question is whether the Aggies can turn competitive performances against the elite four into actual wins.

No. 7 Long Beach State — Holding position
Long Beach State remains No. 7.

The ranking keeps Long Beach inside an interesting second tier behind the current Top 4, Fordham and UC Davis.

For Long Beach, the next major stretch becomes important because there is enough talent to move upward, but the teams immediately ahead aren’t giving voters many reasons to move them down.

Insider’s read: No. 7 is fair. The opportunity to change it will come in the water.

No. 8 UC San Diego — Still firmly inside the Top 10

UC San Diego remains No. 8.

The Tritons have already shown enough early in the season to establish themselves as a legitimate Top-10 team.

Now comes the harder part: separating from the group around them.

Insider’s read: UCSD doesn’t need style points. It needs ranked wins. Stack those and the poll takes care of itself.

No. 9 Pepperdine — Two losses, but context matters

Pepperdine stays No. 9 despite losing to Stanford and USC.

I’m fine with it.

Those were games against the No. 3 and No. 2 teams in the country.

The Stanford loss exposed areas Pepperdine has to improve, particularly when the Waves can’t control the game defensively.

The USC game showed something different.
Pepperdine took USC deep into the fourth quarter, created exclusion pressure and received 16 saves from Max Smirnov.

That’s not a team I would punish heavily simply for scheduling elite opponents.

Insider’s read: Strength of schedule matters. So does how you lose. Pepperdine showed enough against USC to remain a Top-10 team.

Biggest movement

**Santa Clara: No. 19 → No. 17 ⬆**️
Santa Clara makes the largest upward move inside the poll, climbing two positions.

Pacific: T-No. 10 → No. 10
Pacific wins the rankings tiebreaker and takes sole possession of the final Top-10 spot.

San Jose State: T-No. 10 → No. 11
SJSU doesn’t collapse in the poll; the tie simply disappears and the Spartans move immediately outside the Top 10.

UC Irvine: T-No. 13 → No. 13
The Anteaters take sole possession of 13th.

UC Santa Barbara: T-No. 13 → No. 14
UCSB moves down one spot after the previous tie is broken.

**Brown: T-No. 16 → T-No. 18 ⬇**️
Brown experiences one of the larger downward moves this week.

Navy: Out of Top 20
Navy was T-No. 20 last week and now sits just outside the rankings with four receiving-votes points.

Final Take

The CWPA poll gives us the order. Week 3 is where teams start proving whether that order is right. At this point, rankings matter — but matchups matter more.

— Water Polo Insider

The early hierarchy is sharpening. UCLA, USC and California remain unbeaten after combining for seven ranked victories. UC San Diego made the largest poll jump among the featured programs, while Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara showed both the scoring talent to threaten elite teams and the defensive lapses that still separate them from the top tier.

Latest CWPA rankings

The September 2 CWPA poll⁠ remains the latest available. It preceded most of this briefing’s results, so the next poll should contain significant movement.

Results that mattered

No. 1 UCLA: 13–11 at T–No. 10 Pacific; 14–10 over No. 6 UC Davis; 13–8 over No. 19 Santa Clara. UCLA did not simply overpower two top-10 opponents—it solved pressure. Pacific twice reduced the margin to one, while UC Davis led 4–2 after one quarter and was tied 6–6 at halftime. UCLA answered Davis with a 5–1 third quarter, the kind of midgame defensive correction championship teams make. Adam Wright’s victory at Pacific was his 400th career win. Pacific recap⁠ · Aggie Roundup recap⁠

No. 2 USC: 17–11 over No. 7 Long Beach State; 17–14 over No. 9 Pepperdine. The Trojans’ opening-quarter speed put Long Beach in a 5–1 hole. The Beach fought back to 9–7 by halftime, but USC won the fourth quarter 4–1. Against Pepperdine, USC conceded a season-high 14 goals but never trailed, generated 12 steals and closed out a game that tightened late. USC now owns 40 consecutive victories over Long Beach State. Long Beach State recap⁠ · Pepperdine recap⁠

No. 4 Cal: 16–7 over No. 18 Harvard; 14–10 over T–No. 10 San José State. Cal had the week’s cleanest ranked double. The Bears controlled Harvard immediately and never trailed San José State after a five-goal first quarter. More importantly, Riley Clansen supplied stops when the second game tightened, including four power-play saves and a penalty save. The Bears are 4–0 and have yet to need a late rescue. Official Cal recap⁠

No. 9 Pepperdine: beat Biola 20–12 and T–No. 13 UCSB 13–9; lost to No. 3 Stanford 14–6 and No. 2 USC 17–14. The Waves’ ceiling and floor appeared within four days. The UCSB win was a meaningful first ranked victory, but Stanford punished transition mistakes and inefficient 6-on-5 offense. Pepperdine’s ability to respond with 14 goals at USC was encouraging; its upcoming eastern trip is now an important résumé-repair opportunity. Thursday sweep⁠ · Stanford loss⁠ · USC loss⁠

T–No. 13 UCSB went 6–2 in eight games over four days. The Gauchos beat Biola 17–9, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 11–10 in double overtime, Fresno Pacific 15–5, Division III No. 1 Pomona-Pitzer 14–12, Occidental 17–8 and Cal Lutheran 25–5. The losses were 13–9 at Pepperdine and 24–13 to Stanford. UCSB was within 11–9 of Stanford at halftime before losing the second half 13–4—a revealing depth and conditioning breakdown ahead of UCLA and LMU. Malibu split⁠ · Pomona/Oxy wins⁠ · Sunday split⁠

Long Beach State’s first loss exposed a finishing gap. Federico Gulisano scored five and William Whitstone made 10 saves with two assists against USC, but the comeback stalled after halftime. Saturday’s wins over Golden West and Orange Coast were exhibitions and do not count toward the 6–1 record. Official LBSU recap⁠

Verified standouts

USC: Strahinja Krstic scored nine goals across two games. Efe Naipoglu supplied seven goals and seven assists; Charlie Mills made nine saves in each victory and added four steals against Pepperdine.

Cal: Beso Akhvlediani recorded seven goals, three assists and four steals against Harvard. Loui Schuler had four goals and three assists against San José State.

UCLA: Ben Liechty scored three against Pacific, Ryder Dodd delivered four against UC Davis, and Harper Gardner posted a career-high 10 saves against the Aggies.

Pepperdine: Max Smirnov made 21 saves across Thursday’s two wins and 16 at USC. Erik Ionescu, Hunter Danko and Brian Barnuevo each scored hat tricks against the Trojans.

Long Beach State: Gulisano’s five goals and Whitstone’s 10-save performance kept the USC game competitive into the second half.

UCSB: Luigi Canepa scored eight goals during Thursday’s split, four against Pomona-Pitzer and five in the Stanford game.