With two games this weekend at the Sunset Canyon Recreation
Center pool, the No. 4 UCLA men’s water polo team hoped to
rebound from a disappointing fourth-place finish at the NorCal
Tournament last weekend.
The Bruins accomplished their goal, but it took a little bit
longer than expected.
After trailing for most of the game Friday, UCLA recuperated
mentally and rallied to defeat No. 6 UC San Diego 6-5.
“Friday was a weird day,” UCLA coach Adam Krikorian
said. “UCSD plays a little unorthodox and we aren’t
used to their very aggressive defense. We were rebounding off of a
tough weekend that took a mental toll on us.”
Early in the fourth quarter, a goal from redshirt freshman Krsto
Sbutega tied the game at 5-5.
Sbutega started both matches this weekend in place of junior
Christian Pulido, who is out with a shoulder injury sustained in
the NorCal Tournament.
With a goal from senior David Pietsch less than a minute later,
the Bruins took the lead and held on to it for the remainder of
play.
“I helped the team,” Sbutega said. “The goal
was an important one, and I’m happy about it.”
UCLA received key contributions from younger members of the
team, including two goals by redshirt freshman Pat Morrison and a
goal from another redshirt freshman Russell Simpkins.
Essential to the Bruins’ success was the defense, led by
redshirt junior Will Didinger with season-tying 11 saves in goal,
helping to hold the Tritons to only one goal in the second
half.
“We played great defense,” Krikorian said. “It
is clearly our strength.”
Equally key to the 8-2 win on Saturday against No. 14 UC Santa
Barbara, the Bruin defense held the Gauchos scoreless until late in
the third quarter. This time however, redshirt sophomore Matt
Kellogg had the opportunity to play in front of the net, where he
notched nine saves.
“We shut down with our defense,” redshirt senior
John Blanchette said. “I really like that; it’s a great
feeling.”
More importantly, the offense proved fully recovered from
Friday’s lackluster start, as the Bruins scored eight goals
from eight different players.
“(Saturday) we were much sharper,” Krikorian said.
“Communication was better and there was a little more energy
in the air, which is always a good thing.”
Clearly a less physical game overall, the Bruins still knocked
around the Gaucho team Saturday.
The most notable of the rough plays was an underwater scuffle
that resulted in captain Blanchette’s ejection midway through
the third quarter of play.
The ejection kept him poolside for the remainder of the
matchup.
“It’s frustrating,” Blanchette said.
“But there’s not much you can do. Sometimes
they’re called, sometimes they aren’t.”
The dual victories extend the Bruins’ home winning streak
to 19 and improve their overall record to 15-4 and conference
record to 2-0.
Next weekend, the Bruins travel to Northern California to face
Stanford in Palo Alto on Saturday and UC Santa Cruz on Sunday. The
next home game is scheduled for Nov. 12, when UCLA will host No. 5
Pepperdine.