The focus for the men’s water polo team this year has nothing to do with seeking redemption.
After getting knocked out of the MPSF tournament last year, thus falling short of the NCAA Tournament, the team will turn its attention to the immediate future and realize that taking care of the first few games will determine how the rest of the season unfolds.
Coming in ranked No. 4 in the preseason polls, the Bruins will vie for their ninth NCAA Championship and first since 2004, after finishing last season in fifth.
“We’re not going to be too concerned about how we’re going to finish,” coach Adam Krikorian said. “Long-term goals we’re not really concentrating on now. We have too much work to do in the short-term to worry about where we want to be at the end.”
Krikorian is entering his 10th season as coach, guiding his alma mater in the pool with a squad that returns 13 letter winners.
Leading the way for the Bruins will be its top two scorers from last year, seniors Krsto Sbutega and Scott Davidson. Davidson found the back of the net on 49 occasions in 2007, while Sbutega scored 35 times.
“I’m happy (to start the season) because we had a bitter end last year where we got knocked out of MPSF early,” Davidson said. “I’m ready to start the season because a lot of the guys are individually getting back in shape and feeling good.”
With the offense in good hands, the defense will be anchored by junior goalkeeper Chay Lapin.
The All-American from Long Beach had the chance to train with the U.S. Olympic team, surprise silver medalists in Beijing. Lapin will use that experience to improve upon his stellar performance throughout his career where he allowed only 6.05 goals per game.
“Those (returning) guys are great and they are going to have to be great,” Krikorian said. “The last couple of years they have been good but they are going to have to be great in a lot of ways. Chay clearly needs to be the best goalie in the country and many times he will need to be the best player in the pool any given day.”
Several newcomers are looking to make an immediate impact. Redshirt freshmen Cullen Hennessy, Brett Hays and Matt Preciado will get quality minutes for the first time in a UCLA cap. True freshman Clinton Jorth will not redshirt like most incoming freshman do, and will have the opportunity to display his talent right away.
Right now the biggest hole for the Bruins seems to be at the center position after Marco Santos and Justin Johnson graduated last year. Krikorian will employ a “center by committee” system with four players at the position: junior Cole Consani, sophomore Jacob Murphy, Preciado and Hays.
“They might not see as many minutes as maybe Marco and Justin did, but we expect them to be just as or even more effective,” Krikorian said. “They all have been working extremely hard. You can see them getting better and better. If they continue on that path, by the end of the year our centers will be on of our stronger points.”
UCLA competes in the MPSF conference, which traditionally is the strongest conference in the nation. USC, Cal, Stanford and UCLA round out the top four in the nation. Every MPSF game will be important and have postseason implications.
“The competition is going to be really strong,” Lapin said. “The top six teams are very strong. It will be a fun year.”
The Bruins will only have three home games, with five on the road, including No. 1 USC and No. 7 Pepperdine.
With the opener Saturday against UC Irvine, and the NorCal tournament on the horizon, the Bruins will look to get their season off to a strong start.
“If you don’t come in prepared to play then you will end up losing,” Sbutega said. “In the past years we have started slow and built up. This year we have to start strong and make a statement in the beginning and go from there.”