No. 2 UCLA Hosts No. 3 USC to End Regular Season

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LOS ANGELES – No. 2 UCLA (20-2, 1-1 MPSF) concludes the 2022 regular season when it hosts No. 3 USC (15-5, 1-1 MPSF) on Friday, Nov. 11 at 1:00 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The game will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks with Greg Mescall calling all of the exciting action. UCLA will provide live stats on the 6-8 Sports platform. THIS GAME IS SOLD OUT!

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Friday, Nov. 11 (MPSF Game - Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center)
1:00 PM PT – No. 3 USC at No. 2 UCLA | LIVE STATS | WATCH

SERIES HISTORY
UCLA is 93-88-1 all-time in the series history against USC. The Bruins have already posted two victories over the Trojans on the year, posting an 8-6 win over USC at UC San Diego (Sept. 4) to capture the Triton Invitational crown. Then UCLA defeated USC, 13-12, in the semifinals of the MPSF Invitational (Sept. 24). In the win at UCSD, the Bruins had seven different players score in the game, paced by super senior Jake Cavano's game-high-tying two goals. Cavano's second goal at 6:33 of the fourth quarter put the Bruins up 7-4 and was the eventual game-winning goal. Senior Bernardo Maurizi started the contest in the cage and was stellar, holding USC to just six goals while registering 11 saves (62.5 percent save percentage) and three steals. Then at Stanford at the MPSF Invite, UCLA had five players score in the game, paced by a career-high-tying five goals from senior Tommy Gruwell. Gruwell finished with a game- and career-high nine total points, adding four assists in the contest. Cavano added a season-high four scores against the Trojans. Maurizi got the start in the cage and went the distance, registering nine saves and two steals while allowing 12 goals.

LAST WEEK IN BRUIN WATER POLO
No. 2 UCLA (20-2) was firing on all cylinders, scoring on 56.7 percent of its shots (17-for-30), to end the non-conference portion of its 2022 schedule with a 17-10 win at No. 12 Loyola Marymount (15-7) at Burns Aquatics Center (Nov. 5). UCLA improved to 31-0 all-time in the series history against LMU. The Bruins won every quarter and had 12 different players score in the game, including a team-high two goals from seniors Tommy Gruwell and Gabe Discipulo, sophomore Chase Dodd, redshirt sophomore Gianpiero Di Martire, and redshirt freshman Grant Loth. Gruwell added three assists to lead UCLA in scoring with five points. Senior Bernardo Maurizi got the start in the cage and played the first half, registering two saves and one steal, while allowing six goals. Junior Garret Griggs played the second half, tallying eight saves while surrendering four goals.

CAVANO TAKING COMMAND
Super senior attacker/utility Jake Cavano is currently leading the team with 38 goals. He has scored at least one goal in 21 of 22 games in 2022 (none in the Bruins' win over Long Beach State in the MPSF Invitational on Sept. 24). His active streak of 10 straight games with at least one goal is the current longest streak on the team. He has been hot as of late, scoring a total of 23 goals in the 10-game span.

DOTING DODD
Sophomore attacker Chase Dodd is second on the team with 34 goals scored. He has scored at least one goal in 16-of-22 games on the year, including 12 multiple-goal games. He leads the team and is tied for the lead in the MPSF with 19 sprints won. He has scored a season- and career-high four goals twice this season (in a win over San Jose State on Sept. 16 and in a win at then-No. 1 Stanford on Oct. 15. However, he has yet to score against the Trojans in the two Bruin wins this season.

FAMILY AFFAIR
Redshirt sophomore attacker Gianpiero Di Martire is third on the team with 31 goals scored. He has scored at least one goal in 17-of-22 games on the year, including eight multiple-goal games. He will face his older brother, Massimo, for the third time this season when USC visits UCLA in the crosstown splashdown (Nov. 11).

KENNEY RETURNS
Junior attacker Makoto Kenney made a triumphant return to the Bruins' lineup on Oct. 8 after missing 11 games (had been unavailable since Sept. 10 due to an undisclosed illness). Kenney made his presence known, scoring the first goal of the game (1Q - 5:57) in UCLA's 17-6 home win over No. 14 UC San Diego. He also added two steals and one assist against the Tritons. He followed that outing up with two goals in the Bruins' 10-6 takedown of previously undefeated and top-ranked Stanford on the road (Oct. 15). Kenney scored twice in each of the Bruins' wins over No. 11 UC Santa Barbara and No. 7 UC Davis. He scored the eventual game-winning goal against the Aggies with 0:30 left in the fourth quarter to put UCLA up 10-8. He did not score in the Bruins' loss to California (Oct. 29), but found the back of the net once in UCLA's win at No. 12 LMU (Nov. 5). He has scored at least one goal in 8-of-11 on the year.

DODD, GRUWELL NAMED TO CUTINO AWARD WATCH LIST
UCLA sophomore attacker Chase Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./Hunting Beach HS) and senior Tommy Gruwell (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS) have been named to the Cutino Award Watch List, as announced (Oct. 20) by USA Water Polo and The Olympic Club in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC). The Peter J. Cutino Award, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, recognizes the best player in men's and women's college water polo. In an effort to help promote the college game, awareness of the honor, and the excellent play of athletes around the country, the watch list was introduced this season for the first time.

LOTH NAMED MPSF/S&R SPORT NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
UCLA redshirt freshman center Grant Loth (Newport Beach, Calif./Mater Dei HS) has been named the MPSF West/S&R Sport Newcomer of the Week as announced by the league office (Oct. 24). Loth scored one goal in each of the two victories last week. His goal on his only shot in the 12-7 win over No. 11 UC Santa Barbara (Oct. 20) sparked a three-goal run which broke a 3-3 tie in the second quarter. He added a drawn exclusion against the Gauchos. Loth also scored on his only shot in the 10-9 win over No. 7 UC Davis (Oct. 22). His goal in the third quarter tied the game at 3-3. This is Loth's first career MPSF award.

DODD, ROWE SWEEP MPSF WEST WEEKLY AWARDS
UCLA sophomore attacker Chase Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./Hunting Beach HS) was named the MPSF West/Delfina Player of the Week and Bruin freshman attacker Noah Rowe (North Tustin, Calif./Foothill HS) has been named the MPSF West/S&R Sport Newcomer of the Week as announced by the league office (Oct. 17).

Dodd scored a season- and career-high-tying four goals (on five shots) to lead the No. 3 Bruins to a 10-6 win at No. 1 Stanford (Oct. 15), which handed the Cardinal its first loss. Dodd also tallied two steals, drew two exclusions and one penalty shot against Stanford. This was Dodd's fourth career MPSF weekly award, though first as Player of the Week (three Newcomer of the Week awards last year).

Rowe scored one goal on his only shot in the win at No. 1 Stanford (Oct. 15), but it was a big one, sparking a 6-0 scoring run by the Bruins. Trailing 4-3, Rowe fired a shot from half-tank at the buzzer just before halftime and scored off a deflection from the Stanford keeper. He also had two steals in the win. This was Rowe's first career MPSF award.

DODD NAMED UCLA STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK, PRESENTED BY READY
Sophomore attacker Chase Dodd of the UCLA men's water polo team has been selected the UCLA Student-Athlete of the Week, presented by Ready, for Oct. 10-16. Dodd scored a season- and career-high-tying four goals on five shots to lead No. 3 UCLA to a 10-6 win at No. 1 Stanford on Oct. 15. The MPSF West/Delfina Player of the Week also tallied two steals and drew two exclusions and one penalty shot against the Cardinal, who was beaten for the first time this season. Dodd opened the scoring in the second half with back-to-back goals to turn a 4-4 halftime tie to a 6-4 Bruin advantage they would not relinquish. UCLA improved to 17-1 overall and 1-0 in the MPSF with the win. This is Dodd's first UCLA student-athlete of the week award of the season and of his career. Also nominated: Nate Crockford, M. Soccer; Anna Dodson, W. Volleyball; Claire Grover, W. Swimming & Diving; Ronan McMahon-Staggs, M. Cross Country; Claire Selleck, W. Cross Country.

MAURIZI NAMED MPSF WEST/DELFINA PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN
UCLA senior goalkeeper Bernardo Maurizi (Florence, Italy/Salesiani Firenze) was named the MPSF West/Delfina Player of the Week as announced by the league office (Oct. 3). Maurizi totaled 24 saves and six steals to lead UCLA to wins over No. 4 Pacific (Sept. 30) and at No. 12 Pepperdine (Oct. 2). UCLA trailed 8-3 early in the third quarter before storming back to defeat the Tigers. Maurizi had 11 saves and a season-high three steals in a 12-11 win. His last save came with 10 seconds remaining in the game to preserve the one-goal victory. The Bruins then trailed by three in the first half at Pepperdine before rallying to win, as Maurizi had a season-high 13 saves and tied his career-high of three steals. This was Maurizi's second career MPSF Player of the Week award, both this year.

CAVANO NAMED MPSF WEST/DELFINA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UCLA super senior attacker/utility Jake Cavano (Huntington Beach, Calif./Hunting Beach HS) was named the MPSF West/Delfina Player of the Week as announced by the league office (Sept. 19). Cavano scored seven goals through four wins over Top-20 teams at the UC Davis Aggie Roundup (Sept. 16-17). Cavano put away the game-winning goal in three of the four contests. He scored twice in wins over No. 10 San Jose State, No. 16 California Baptist, and No. 11 Princeton, and added one goal in the win over No. 14 Harvard. Cavano is the only Bruin to score at least one goal in all 10 games of the 2022 season. This was Cavano's second career MPSF Player of the Week award.

MAURIZI NAMED MPSF WEST/DELFINA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
UCLA senior goalkeeper Bernardo Maurizi (Florence, Italy/Salesiani Firenze) was named the MPSF West/Delfina Player of the Week as announced by the league office (Sept. 5). Maurizi registered 26 saves over the two and a half games he played to help the Bruins win the UC San Diego Invitational (Sept. 3-4). He had eight saves and two steals against No. 8 UC Santa Barbara. He played the second half in the win over No. 7 UC Davis and had seven saves, one steal, and one assist, while only allowing two goals. He then had 11 saves and three steals in the win over No. 2 USC. He had an impressive goals against average of 5.6 against three Top 10 teams this past weekend. This was Maurizi's first career MPSF weekly award.

UCLA PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN MPSF
Defending NCAA Champion California recorded a perfect 49 points in the 2022 MPSF Men's Water Polo Coaches' poll and was picked to win the MPSF's Western Division title. UCLA placed second with 41 points. USC came in third with 39 points while Stanford was fourth with 31 points. In the MPSF Eastern Division, Austin College was picked to win with 24 points. Washington & Jefferson was projected second with 16 points, followed by Penn State Behrend (13) and Augustana (11).

SUPER SENIORS
Super seniors Evan Rosenfeld (2021 First-Team All-American) and Jake Cavano (2021 Honorable Mention All-American) have both decided to return to Westwood for one final season. Rosenfeld, a three-time All-American and 2021 MPSF Tournament MVP, scored 13 goals as a defender a year ago. Cavano, a four-time All-American, was tied for second on the team in scoring with 31 goals last season. Rosenfeld is working towards a master's degree in the Department of Education's Transformative Coaching and Leadership. 

RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
In addition to the aforementioned Rosenfeld and Cavano, the Bruins also return two more All-Americans in Tommy Gruwell and Bernardo Maurizi. Gruwell, a three-time All-American, returns for his senior season after ranking fifth on the team in scoring with 26 goals last year. He also spent the summer with Team USA where tallied three goals at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Starting senior goalie Bernardo Maurizi (9-4 last year), a two-time All-American, returns in the cage.

UCLA 2022 OUTLOOK
UCLA returns five of its top seven scorers and all three goalkeepers that saw action a year ago from the 2021 MPSF Championship team. Reserve goalkeepers junior Garret Griggs (10-0 in 2021) and redshirt junior Chase Honaker (1-0 in 2021) also return to bolster the Bruin defense.

Including the firepower from the four All-Americans, the Bruin offense looks to be very strong. Sophomore Chase Dodd was tied for second on the team in scoring with 31 goals and returns to UCLA after a busy summer where he tallied 13 goals at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, for Team USA. He also scored 17 goals at the 2022 FINA Intercontinental Cup in Lima, Peru and was named MVP of the gold medal match.

The Bruins also return capable offensive players in redshirt junior Jack Larsen (23 goals), redshirt sophomore Gianpiero Di Martire (19 goals), junior Makoto Kenney (14 goals), sophomore Eli Liechty (12 goals), senior Gabe Discipulo (11 goals), senior Andy Rodgers (11 goals), and redshirt junior Giorgio Alessandria (11 goals).
 
The Bruins will look to replace 2020 NCAA Player of the Year and Cutino Award winner, Nicolas Saveljic (led the team with 33 goals). UCLA also lost the services of seniors Felix Brozyna-Vilim (30 goals) and Chasen Travisano (11 goals), and sophomore Tanner Pulice (17 goals).
 
Arriving in Westwood this season and looking to make an immediate impact is freshmen Gray Carson (6-4, UTL, Long Beach, Calif., Woodrow Wilson HS), and Noah Rowe (6-4, ATK, North Tustin, Calif., Foothill HS).
 
The Bruins ended the 2021 season with a 20-4 overall record and captured their sixth MPSF Championship in program history.
 
A CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM
The UCLA Bruins captured their 12th NCAA Championship in men's water polo with a 7-6 win at USC on Mar. 21, 2021, at USC's Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The win also marked the 119th NCAA Championship for the UCLA Athletic Department. It was a balanced scoring effort by the Bruins, who received goals from six different players. Junior Jake Cavano, who was named to the 2020 First-Team All-NCAA Tournament, scored two goals, including the eventual difference maker with 6:23 left in the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Bernardo Maurizi, who also was named First-Team All-NCAA Tournament, held the Trojans scoreless throughout the first half and racked up nine saves. UCLA never trailed in the game, though USC briefly pulled even at 4-4. Nicolas Saveljic was named the NCAA Tournament MVP.

THE WRIGHT STUFF
After guiding the Bruins to the NCAA Championship in 2020 and being named the ACWPC National Coach of the Year, Adam Wright returns for his 14th season as UCLA's head men's water polo coach in 2022 with an overall record of 316-60 (.840) and an MPSF mark of 60-24 (.714). His teams earned perfect APR (Academic Progress Rate) scores of 1,000 in 2014, 2015 and 2016 while winning the school's 112th, 113th and 114th NCAA Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Wright added the fourth NCAA Championship to his resume as a head coach in 2020 (Mar. 21, 2021) and a fourth perfect APR score in 2021. On July 20, 2017, then-UCLA Director of Athletics, Dan Guerrero, announced that Wright will guide both the UCLA men's and women's water polo teams. Wright was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on June 20, 2019, and to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020. On March 22, 2022, UCLA Director of Athletics, Martin Jarmond, announced that Wright had signed a new six-year contract, starting in July of 2022, as the Head Coach for both of the Bruins' Men's and Women's Water Polo programs. 
 
RECAPPING 2021
Overall Record: 20-4 | Final Ranking: 3rd | NCAA Finish: T-3rd | MPSF Tournament Finish: 1st

The UCLA Bruins captured the 2021 MPSF Men's Water Polo Championship with an 11-10 win at Stanford at Avery Aquatic Center (Nov. 21, 2021). The win marked the Bruins' sixth MPSF Championship in history while completing a season sweep of the Cardinal (3-0), extending the series winning streak to four games.

POLLING THE BRUINS
UCLA held steady at No. 2 in this week's CWPA National Men's Varsity Top 20 Poll (96 points), released on Nov. 9.