This post was updated Nov. 11 at 12:02 p.m.
It is often said to save the best for last.
And some could say the Bruins did just that.
No. 2 UCLA men’s water polo (21-1, 4-1 MPSF West) concluded its home schedule for the 2025 campaign at Spieker Aquatics Center with a Senior Night celebration to honor its seven graduating members, defeating No. 6 Pacific (15-6, 5-1 WCC) 17-2. The Bruins tied their season low for goals allowed Friday night, marking the first time they shut out an opponent through the first three quarters.
UCLA has won three consecutive matches since dropping its first game of the season to No. 1 USC on Oct. 18 and will close out its regular season against the crosstown rival Nov. 15. But despite the impending rematch and potential for revenge, the final home performance of the year was one to celebrate.
“That senior group has done so much for our program,” said coach Adam Wright. “They’re the heart and soul, and they show every day by example who we want to be as a program.”
The Bruins had reason to cheer.
Not only were the stands filled with family and friends, but UCLA delivered one of its best performances – if not its best – of the year
“Our energy on defense was the best it has been all year,” Wright said. “Just the way guys are sprinting back to help our defenders when we have opportunities to close out a possession. When we play with that kind of energy and that kind of communication, we become a tough team. That’s going to be important for us, not only moving forward next week, but moving forward, period, over the next couple of weeks.”
While the air-tight defense was on full display, it was the Bruins’ vigor that stood out.
Wright employed various defensive schemes throughout the match to thwart a Tiger offense that has not scored single-digit goals since late September. UCLA trapped its matchups at the pool’s center and applied pressure on nearly every transition, forcing Pacific players out of position.
Although redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Nate Tauscher had 12 saves, the rest of the defensive front stopped six more attempts, deflecting balls before shot attempts could reach the net. Every Pacific shot attempt was either swatted away or missed the goal entirely throughout the first seven minutes of the affair.
“You can just see the different level in energy and effort and how we’re moving in and out, how we get blocks up and how we get helping blocks,” Wright said.
The Bruins also altered their scheme, sending out different matchups depending on their rotation while applying consistent pressure as a unit. Following the USC loss, Wright emphasized relieving the defensive responsibility from Tauscher and ensuring that those in front of him provided support.
And UCLA seemed to accomplish this goal.
“We come into practice wanting to get better,” said junior utility Ben Liechty, whose older brother, redshirt senior center Eli Liechty, was honored before the game. “We probably kind of proved that from the last game against USC.”
The Bruins held the Tigers to just over a 0.07 shot percentage on 28 attempts. Additionally, most of Pacific’s leading scorers from this season were all held scoreless Friday night.
But UCLA dominated on the offensive end as well, especially at the start of the contest. Attackers sophomore Ryder Dodd and his older brother, redshirt senior Chase Dodd, combined for three goals across the game’s first two minutes to force an immediate Pacific timeout.
However, UCLA posted a goal percentage just shy of 0.500 overall, which may not parallel what was displayed defensively.
“Our offense, on the other hand, wasn’t that good,” Chase Dodd said. “We were missing a lot of open opportunities. We were wrestling a lot of shots.”
Wright still added that some of the missed chances were tolerable and that the creation of these scoring opportunities was a positive takeaway.
For players like Ben Liechty, much of the locker room culture that leads to these triumphs can be credited to the seniors who made their last Westwood appearances Friday.
“Coming into this program was super easy,” Ben Liechty said. “They make it super enjoyable. They make it super welcoming. They make it a family. It starts at the top and goes down to the bottom, to the freshmen … They set the culture. They set the standard. And they do a really good job at it. Without them, we would be a completely different team.”
The Bruins have the weekend to reflect on their season and their careers, despite the Trojan rematch and the postseason awaiting.
Although collegiate water polo careers are temporary, the UCLA program strives to instill values in its student-athletes that should stick with them for the rest of their lives.
Wright said he hopes his players take lifelong confidence with them after graduation.
“You can be confident in your worst moments, confident on your worst days,” Wright said. “If these guys walk out of the door with confidence knowing they can do whatever they want, then UCLA wins.”
Comments are closed.