No. 1 UCLA’s men’s water polo team saw its 21-game winning streak end with a 13-12 loss to No. 3 USC on Saturday at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The defeat brings UCLA’s record against the Trojans to 101 wins, 93 losses, and one tie.
Eight Bruins contributed goals in the match. Sophomore Ryder Dodd led the team with four goals and five points. Redshirt senior Chase Dodd added two goals and two assists for a total of four points.
Redshirt sophomore Nate Tauscher started in goal for UCLA, recording 13 saves and a steal while allowing 13 goals—the most conceded by the Bruins this season.
UCLA took an early lead, going up 4-2 after a power play goal by sophomore Bode Brinkema late in the first period. USC responded by tying the game at 4-4 before the end of the quarter. The Bruins again held a two-goal advantage at 6-4 following a power play score from freshman Jackson Harlan, but USC scored three straight times to lead 7-6 at halftime.
In the third period, USC maintained leads of 9-7 and 10-8 before UCLA tied it at 10-10. The Trojans closed out the quarter with two more goals to make it 12-10 heading into the final period. Ryder Dodd tied the game at 12-12 with just over a minute remaining, but Jack Martin put USC back ahead with less than a minute left on the clock.
UCLA had opportunities in the closing seconds—a missed power play shot from Ryder Dodd and a forced turnover by Chase Dodd led to a timeout called by head coach Adam Wright with three seconds left—but their final possession ended in their thirteenth turnover of the game.
“Adam Wright quickly called timeout,” according to UCLA Athletics’ report. “But after the stoppage in play, the Bruins’ final play ended in a season-high 13th turnover to provide the 13-12 final.”
The Bruins will have a week off before continuing their home stand against No. 4 Stanford on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center, followed by another home match versus No. 2 California on Sunday, Nov. 2.
USC was led offensively by Mihailo Vukazic with three goals; Bernardo Herzer and Charles Mills each made three saves for USC in goal.
The match statistics showed that UCLA converted five out of nine power plays while USC converted four out of nine opportunities.
