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NCAA Champions Again: UCLA Water Polo Adds to Trophy Case

UCLA Bruins Water Polo strikes gold again
Andrew L. Ferguson Jr|
UCLA Bruin (top) throws the ball away UCI Anteater (bottom) during the Water Polo game at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. on Sat. April 13, 2024.
UCLA Bruin (top) throws the ball away UCI Anteater (bottom) during the Water Polo game at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. on Sat. April 13, 2024. | Robyn Jones/Special to the Stockton Record / USA TODAY NETWORK

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UCLA Bruins

In back-to-back year UCLA wins the NCAA Water Polo title game against USC.

The Bruins were able to take down No. 1 USC in a very back-and-forth matchup, winning off a buzzer-beater from Jucá Carsalade, marking his second goal of the game. This win marks the 14th time UCLA has won the title, and the 125th NCAA title in the Bruins' athletic department history.

Water Polo
UCLA celebrates its newest national title as the Bruins men’s water polo team poses poolside with the NCAA trophy and championship hardware after an instant-classic victory. | @UCLAWaterPolo on X

A chaotic fourth quarter saw UCLA finally pull even when Eli Liechty converted a 6-on-5 chance. USC briefly regained the lead on a Mihailo Vukazic goal, but Ryder Dodd answered with a penalty at 3:26 and the go-ahead score at 2:35. The Trojans’ Jack Martin tied it again with just over two minutes left, but Jucá Carsalade delivered the decisive blow at the buzzer.

Ryan Dodd led UCLA in the win, scoring three of the Bruins' 11 points. Bode Brinkema and Chase Dodd also added two points in a razor-thin matchup. Goalie Nate Nauscher also deserves his flowers, racking up eight saves, which were crucial in the win.

To the surprise of many, UCLA entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, hosting a very good 27-2 record, compared to the No. 1-seeded USC, whose record was 23-4. However, this would not deter UCLA, as they would easily blow past Princeton, Stanford, and USC in the championship.

The Bruins evened the season series at 2–2 against the Trojans, pushing their all-time edge to 103-94-1. Fittingly, seven of UCLA’s NCAA titles have come at USC’s expense. Sending a message of dominance to the cross-town rival.

For head coach Adam Wright, the victory adds yet another milestone to an already illustrious career. He now holds 10 NCAA titles as both a player and a coach, further solidifying his status as one of the sport’s most accomplished and respected figures.

Looking ahead, UCLA is well-positioned for another title run next season. Both Ryder and Chase Dodd still have some eligibility remaining—two players who combined for five of UCLA's 11 points.

Championship hero and Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerJucá Carsalade still has two years of eligibility remaining — a major reason UCLA is poised to stay at the forefront of the national title hunt. Goalie Nate Tauscher also has eligibility left in the upcoming seasons, a player who, like the others, was crucial in the win.

In an instant classic that will be remembered for years, the Bruins once again showed why championship moments tend to run through Westwood.

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Andrew L. Ferguson Jr.
ANDREW L. FERGUSON JR

Andrew Ferguson is currently pursuing his sports journalism degree from UNLV. He is turning his lifelong passion for sports into his career.