Each and every one of the Bruins has something to prove.
Almost exactly a year ago to the day, the UCLA men’s water
polo team found itself with no hope of getting into the NCAA
Tournament and with a consolation finish of third in the MPSF
Tournament.
But one year later the Bruins are bringing a full arsenal to
this weekend’s conference tournament up at Stanford. With a
senior-laden squad and a 16-game winning streak, the No. 1 Bruins
have the utmost confidence in themselves, when they open up
postseason play against UC Santa Barbara this Friday.
“We don’t really feel any pressure,” senior
attacker Brett Ormsby said. “This team is very confident. The
pressure is on the other teams to perform, because they have to
beat us to get a NCAA Tournament bid.”
After being idle for two weeks, the Bruins are heading into this
weekend well-rested and re-energized, which should prove beneficial
to them if they end up playing three games this weekend.
“It’s good that they’re all evening games, so
we’ll have time to rest,” senior goalie Joe Axelrad
said. “Fatigue is probably going to set in. I’m just
hoping adrenaline kicks in after a while.”
Despite thrashing UC Santa Barbara 16-5 just two years ago, UCLA
has suffered near upsets to less talented teams this season.
“We can’t take them lightly,” said Krikorian
on the match against UC Santa Barbara. “At times we’ve
taken things for granted, like against Pepperdine, we nearly got
defeated. It’s all about our mind frame heading into the
game. They have some talented players, so we really can’t
afford to take them lightly.”
With both the MPSF Tournament and NCAA Tournament held in
Stanford at the Avery Aquatic Center, the Bruins will look to this
weekend as preparation for the type of atmosphere they will have to
be acclimated to in this postseason.
“If we beat (Stanford) in their stadium, it gives us huge
bragging rights,” Ormsby said. “We’ve already had
big games on the road this year, such as against USC and Cal, so we
don’t feel much pressure playing on the road.”
But the Bruins’ focus is still on ploughing through UC
Santa Barbara in the first round.
“Santa Barbara is a good team,” Ormsby said.
“We’ll have to be careful. We’re going to look to
set the tone in the first quarter and put them out of it as quick
as possible.”
If the Bruins beat UC Santa Barbara, they will have to play
either Long Beach State or UC Irvine. Irvine has played three close
games against the Bruins this season, so it certainly won’t
be a cakewalk to the final round.
“We’re going to have to have consistent intensity
and effort in order to win,” coach Adam Krikorian said.
“It’s a domino effect ““ good defense and
offensive opportunities all spring from playing hard. It’s
all about attitude.”