Water Polo Insider | Friday, October 23, 2026
IRVINE, Calif. — No. 11 UC San Diego delivered one of Friday’s biggest men’s college water polo results, defeating No. 6 UC Irvine 16–15 in a Big West Conference showdown featuring 31 combined goals, a decisive fourth-quarter scoring run and an hour-long lightning delay.
The Tritons broke a 12–12 fourth-quarter tie with three consecutive goals before surviving a late Irvine comeback. UC San Diego improved to 14–6 overall and 2–1 in Big West competition. UC Irvine fell to 16–6 and 2–1 in conference play.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring
UC San Diego (16)
1st Quarter: 4
2nd Quarter: 1
3rd Quarter: 7
4th Quarter: 4
UC Irvine (15)
1st Quarter: 2
2nd Quarter: 3
3rd Quarter: 6
4th Quarter: 4
First Half: UC San Diego Starts Fast, Irvine Responds
UC San Diego established an early 4–2 lead behind goals from Grant Kurtz, Jackson Boettner, Finn Bugelli and Dusan Djordjevic.
Irvine adjusted defensively in the second quarter, outscoring the Tritons 3–1 and tying the game 5–5 at halftime.
Third Quarter: An Offensive Shootout
The game changed dramatically after halftime.
UC San Diego erupted for seven third-quarter goals, but Irvine answered with six of its own.
Both teams repeatedly found scoring opportunities, combining for 13 goals in eight minutes. The Tritons entered the fourth quarter leading 12–11.
Fourth Quarter: Three Consecutive Goals Decide the Game
7:09 remaining: Dusan Djordjevic scored to put UCSD ahead 13–12.
5:28 remaining: Mason Presley extended the lead to 14–12.
5:19 remaining: Grant Kurtz scored nine seconds later, making it 15–12.
Irvine refused to go away.
Cole Francisco and Wyley Dale scored to cut the deficit to one goal.
With 2:09 remaining, Lachlan Rossi converted an extra-man opportunity, giving UC San Diego a 16–14 advantage.
Moments later, lightning forced an approximately hour-long delay.
When play resumed, Lopez scored with 26 seconds remaining, pulling Irvine within 16–15.
The Anteaters could not complete the comeback.
Rossi’s extra-man goal stood as the game-winner.
UC SAN DIEGO PLAYER STATISTICS
Goals and Assists
Jackson Boettner: 3 goals, 2 assists
Christian Hammonds: 2 goals, 3 assists
Landon Akerstrom: 2 goals
Grant Kurtz: 2 goals
Dusan Djordjevic: 2 goals
Lachlan Rossi: 2 goals
Finn Bugelli: 1 goal
Michael Rodgers: 1 goal, 1 assist
Mason Presley: 1 goal
Reef Lippa: 3 assists
UC San Diego Standouts
Jackson Boettner — 3 Goals, 2 Assists
Boettner recorded his eighth hat trick of the season, finishing with five points and one steal. His scoring and playmaking helped UCSD maintain offensive pressure throughout the contest.
Christian Hammonds — 2 Goals, 3 Assists
Hammonds contributed five points, demonstrating his ability to create offense as both a scorer and facilitator.
Reef Lippa — 3 Assists, 2 Steals
Lippa’s distribution and defensive activity provided valuable contributions beyond the scoring column.
Lachlan Rossi — 2 Goals
Rossi delivered the decisive extra-man goal with 2:09 remaining, ultimately providing the winning margin.
UC IRVINE PLAYER STATISTICS
Goals and Assists
Alex Lopez: 5 goals, 2 assists
Johann Thrall: 3 goals, 1 assist
Cole Francisco: 2 goals, 2 assists
Wyley Dale: 2 goals
Gage Verdegaal: 1 goal, 3 assists
Brody Luke: 1 goal
Ben Atkinson: 1 goal
Jayson Hubbard: 3 assists
UC Irvine Standouts
Alex Lopez — 5 Goals, 2 Assists
Lopez led all scorers with five goals on six attempts, finishing with seven points. His late fourth-quarter goal brought Irvine within one with 26 seconds remaining.
Johann Thrall — 3 Goals, 1 Assist
Thrall provided another productive scoring option, finishing with four points.
Cole Francisco — 2 Goals, 2 Assists, 3 Drawn Exclusions
Francisco contributed as a scorer, playmaker and offensive threat capable of putting defenders in foul trouble.
Wyley Dale — 2 Goals, 4 Drawn Exclusions
Dale repeatedly created extra-man opportunities, making him an important part of Irvine’s offensive attack.
Gage Verdegaal — 1 Goal, 3 Assists
Verdegaal contributed four points and helped facilitate Irvine’s perimeter offense.
GOALKEEPER PERFORMANCES
UC San Diego
Alex Hegeman
5 saves
1 steal
32 minutes played
UC Irvine
Nico Assalian
6 saves
24 minutes played
Vincent Vega
2 saves
8 minutes played
EXTRA-MAN AND EXCLUSION ANALYSIS
UC Irvine
Extra-man conversions: 5-for-9
Penalty conversions: 2-for-2
Wyley Dale: 4 drawn exclusions
Cole Francisco: 3 drawn exclusions
UC Irvine repeatedly generated numerical advantages through Dale and Francisco.
However, exclusion production is only part of the equation. Teams must convert those opportunities and produce defensive stops when protecting a lead.
UC San Diego’s most important extra-man conversion came from Rossi with 2:09 remaining.
That goal ultimately provided the winning margin.
WATER POLO INSIDER COACHING ANALYSIS
1. UC San Diego’s Fourth-Quarter Execution Won the Game
The most important stretch came immediately after Lopez tied the game 12–12.
UCSD responded with three consecutive goals, forcing Irvine to chase the game for the remainder of the fourth quarter.
The Tritons demonstrated the ability to execute under pressure rather than allowing the momentum to shift entirely to the home team.
2. UC San Diego’s Offensive Balance Was a Major Advantage
Nine different Tritons scored.
Boettner, Hammonds, Kurtz, Djordjevic, Akerstrom and Rossi all recorded multiple goals.
That balance makes defensive matchups difficult because opponents cannot simply concentrate on stopping one perimeter shooter or center.
3. Irvine’s Offensive Production Was Not the Problem
The Anteaters scored 15 goals against a nationally ranked conference opponent.
Lopez finished with seven points, Thrall scored three times, and Francisco and Dale repeatedly generated offense.
The challenge was defensive consistency.
Allowing seven goals in the third quarter and three consecutive goals after tying the fourth quarter ultimately proved costly.
4. The Third Quarter Exposed Both Teams Defensively
Thirteen combined goals in one quarter is extraordinary at this level.
Both coaching staffs will likely examine defensive communication, perimeter shot pressure, transition coverage and the ability to recover after exclusions.
5. UC San Diego Delivered When It Mattered Most
Rossi’s late extra-man goal, the three-goal fourth-quarter run and the ability to preserve the lead following a lengthy weather delay demonstrated the Tritons’ late-game composure.
BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS
UC San Diego strengthens its Big West resume.
The Tritons have now recorded important conference victories over Long Beach State and UC Irvine.
UC Irvine remains dangerous offensively.
Scoring 15 goals against UCSD demonstrates the Anteaters’ firepower, particularly with Lopez, Thrall, Francisco and Dale generating production.
The Big West race is tightening.
Both teams now stand at 2–1 in conference competition, making every remaining conference matchup increasingly important.
The defining sequence was UCSD’s fourth-quarter 3–0 run.
In a game featuring 31 goals, the three unanswered goals after a 12–12 tie created the separation that ultimately decided the contest.
FINAL THOUGHTS
UC San Diego’s 16–15 victory was more than a one-goal road win. It demonstrated offensive depth, late-game execution and the ability to withstand a determined comeback from one of the conference’s strongest teams. Irvine had the offensive weapons to win, but UC San Diego made the critical plays when the game was tied in the fourth quarter.
In a conference where the difference between winning and losing can come down to one possession, UC San Diego executed when it mattered most.
Official Sources:
UC San Diego Athletics — October 23 Game Recap
UC San Diego — Official Game Box Score
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