By Madeline Folsom on SwimSwam
The UCLA Bruins upset USC to win their 2nd straight NCAA title in men’s Water Polo following a last second goal in the Championship Game to win 11-10.
This win was the 14th National Title in the program’s history and the 125th title for UCLA. It also marked head coach Adam Wright‘s 10th Championship for the Bruins with six of them as the men’s head coach (2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2024, and 2025), one as the women’s head coach (2024), one as the women’s assistant coach (2009), and two as a player (1999 and 2000)
UCLA was ranked 2nd going into the tournament behind USC, who finished as the runner-up at last year’s Championships. The final score was 11-10 with Frederico Juca Carsalade scoring the final point right as time expired to end the tie.
The Bruins finished the season at 27-2 with both of their losses coming against the Trojans. They finished with a 2-2 record against USC.
View this post on Instagram
There were six different point scorers for the Bruins. Sophomore Ryder Dodd earned a hat trick with 3 goals over the four quarters with one point coming in the 2nd quarter and two goals in the 4th.
UCLA got off to an early lead, getting up 1-0 in the first 30 seconds of the game when senior Chase Dodd scored the first point of the match. Soon after, USC responded with a point from Stefan Brankovic then Bruin sophomore Bode Brinkema scored a 2nd point to get UCLA up 2-1
C. Dodd went on to score a 2nd point in the first quarter with just 23 seconds remaining on the clock to help the Bruins get up 3-1 after the 1st.
The 2nd quarter saw six goals with UCLA scoring one with R. Dodd scoring his 1st point of the game. USC scored five with Jack Vort scoring two and Brankovic, Robert Lopez Duart, and Efe Naipoglu all scoring one. They took over the lead to wrap up the 2nd quarter ahead 4-6.
In the 3rd quarter, UCLA scored three goals with Frederico Juca Carsalade, Wade Sherlock, and Brinkema. USC maintained the lead with two goals courtesy of Vort and Naipoglu to finish in 7-8 with eight minutes left to play.
The 4th quarter saw UCLA’s Ben Liechty score the first point to tie the game at 8-8 with 6:44 remaining to play.
USC responded quickly with a point from Mihalo Vukazic with 5:52 in the game to keep the Trojans in the lead.
UCLA’s R. Dodd scored his 2nd point of the game to tie the score at 9-9 with 3:26 on the clock. Less than a minute later he scored another point to give the Bruins the lead for the first time since the 2nd quarter with 2:35 to go.
USC bounced back with a point from Jack Martin with just over two minutes left, tying the score at 10-10.
With one second left on the clock Frederico Juca Carsalade scored the final goal of the game, bouncing the ball past USC goalkeeper Charles Mills to win the Championship for the Bruins.
Mills had 7 saves while UCLA goalkeeper Nate Tauscher had 8.
Championship Game Highlights
Recent Men’s Water Polo Champions
2025 — UCLA 2024 – UCLA 2023 – Cal 2022 – Cal 2021 – Cal 2020 – UCLA 2019 – Stanford 2018 – USC 2017 – UCLA 2016 – Cal 2015 – UCLABox Score
Team 1 2 3 4 Final No. 2 UCLA 3 1 3 4 11 No. 1 USC 1 5 2 2 106×5 – UCLA – 4/9 – USC – 6/10 Penalties – UCLA – 1/1 – USC – 0/0
UCLA Goals:Ryder Dodd 3, Bode Brinkema 2, Chase Dodd 2, Frederico Juca Carsalade 2, Wade Sherlock 1, Ben Liechty 1 UCLA Saves:Nate Tauscher 8
USC Goals: Jack Vort 3, Stefan Brankovic 2, Efe Naipoglu 2, Robert Lopez Duart 1, Jack Martin 1, Mihailo Vukazic 1 USC Saves: Charles Mills 7
Read the full story on SwimSwam: UCLA Scores Buzzer Beater to Win Men’s NCAA Water Polo Championship
Hence then, the article about ucla scores buzzer beater to win men s ncaa water polo championship was published today ( ) and is available on swimswam ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( UCLA Scores Buzzer Beater to Win Men’s NCAA Water Polo Championship )
Also on site :