UCLA’s men’s water polo team is off to a fast start.
With a 4-1 mark heading into the meat of its schedule, UCLA hopes to challenge for a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title. It will not be easy, considering the difficulty of the Bruins’ schedule.
UCLA is slated to play two-time defending NCAA champion California in Berkeley during the last week of October. The two teams may also face each other during the SoCal Tournament in Malibu next weekend.
UCLA will also travel to face a formidable USC squad that handed UCLA its first defeat of the year, 6-5, in the NorCal Tournament just over a week ago in Stockton.
Other formidable matches with perennial powers include a road contest at Pepperdine and a date at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center with Stanford.
A 6-4 victory over the Golden Bears en route to a second-place finish at the NorCal tournament is an encouraging sign for the Bruins.
While the regular season may be grueling, the ultimate goal is an MPSF tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
To get there, UCLA will have to get past many of these teams for a second or third time, a tall task for any squad.
BALANCING SUCCESS: Early in the season, UCLA rode on the coattails of a balanced attack on offense and outstanding play in front of the net.
Ten players have scored a goal for coach Adam Krikorian. In one match against Pacific, eight different players combined to score 11 goals.
Senior Krsto Sbutega leads the team with 11 goals, but the offense is fueled by sources as well.
Junior Scott Davidson (7 goals) and sophomore Ben Hohl (6 goals) have developed into a potent pair of attackers that pressure opposing defenses, providing the Bruins with a variety of weapons. The widespread scoring will help the Bruins in case an opponent shuts down one of UCLA’s offensive standouts.
BREAK TIME: Since its 6-5 loss to USC in the championship game of the NorCal Tournament, UCLA has had a lot of time to cool its heels.
The 14-day span between the conclusion of this tournament and this Saturday’s match against Long Beach State is the longest break the team will have this year.
The season will kick into high gear against the 49ers in Pasadena, as the Bruins will play nearly 20 matches over the course of two months.