The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
A domineering No. 2 UCLA team (20-1, 4-1 MSPF West) looks to reinvigorate the energy showcased during their 21-game winning streak, which spanned from Nov. 2024 to Oct. 2025 – on Senior Night against No. 6 Pacific (15-5, 5-1 WCC) Friday at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins remained absent in the loss column until they suffered a 13-12 loss to then-No. 3 USC Oct. 18, shattering a streak that shadowed the all-time collegiate record of 57 straight wins that UCLA set from 2013-2016.
Bouncing back into the win column following the tough result was no easy feat. But the Bruins have maintained a poise and confidence that has rolled them back into rhythm.
“You can’t really think about the past,” said sophomore attacker Ryder Dodd. “Going into tomorrow, I just have to focus on the next team, focus on what they’re going to do, and just adapt to that.”
After their first loss in nearly a year, the Bruins were able to eke out a one-goal sudden-death victory against No. 3 Stanford – a squad that had allowed only 10.6 goals a game. Dodd scored seven in an 18-goal performance against No. 4 California a day later, and both Dodd and the team reached season-high conference scoring marks. Redshirt junior attacker Frederico Jucá Carsalade and sophomore utility Bode Brinkema both scored hat tricks during the weekend as well, notching their third and sixth of the season, respectively.
[Related: UCLA men’s water polo regains momentum with consecutive conference wins]
UCLA looks to conclude its five-game home stand and its non-conference slate with a win against a red-hot Pacific squad. The Tigers ride into Westwood on an eight-game win streak, including five victories against top-20 teams, and most recently captured a 14-11 win against then-No. 12 California Baptist.
Defensive unity may be a priority in the Bruins’ game plan, since restricting attacker Apostolos Georgaras and utility Borisz Kasa-Gal would be quintessential in shutting down the Tigers’ offense. Although Georgaras and Kasa-Gal have netted 69 and 53 goals this season, respectively, the team has suffered numerous losses when the pair scores single-digit goals.
“We have to grow together on defense,” said coach Adam Wright. “We have to learn to talk to each other more. We can get our transition game going, but you have to make stops in order to get up and down the pool.”
Unit consistency is another key for UCLA.
The Westwood squad boasts eight double-digit goal scorers this season, ranging from Dodd to junior utility Ben Liechty and the aforementioned Brinkema, who round out the team’s top-three scorers.
“The strength of UCLA is the program, and we want to tap into every single player on the bench,” Wright said. “If we can tap into every player, then it makes it really tough on our opponents.”
The Bruins’ focus remains inward – through discipline, connection and transforming their energy in the water – as they prepare for postseason play.
“We’ve got to keep the focus on ourselves,” said Carsalade. “We worked really hard throughout the week to get to this moment, and now we just have to put it in play.”
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