No. 12/13 UC San Diego Explodes for 34 Goals, Sweeps Opening-Day Doubleheader at Inland Empire Classic

Tritons topple Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 14–8 and blitz Cal Lutheran 20–9 at Axelrood Pool; Boettner nets first career hat trick as UCSD improves to 5–3.

CLAREMONT, Calif. | The No. 12/13 UC San Diego men’s water polo program made a statement on Friday at the Inland Empire Classic, piling up 34 total goals across two victories at Axelrood Pool. The Tritons (5–3) controlled the morning with a 14–8 decision over host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps before unleashing a 20–9 avalanche on Cal Lutheran to close the day.

Against CMS, UC San Diego led 6–4 at halftime and broke the game open with an 8–4 second-half surge. Brendon Fezzey headlined a balanced attack with 3 goals and an assist (4 points), while Finn Bugelli and freshman Jackson Boettner each posted 2 goals and 1 assist. Bennett Axline and Eamon Hennessey added two goals apiece, with Felipe Ferreira, Mason Presley, and Luca Rago also finding the cage. Alex Hegeman anchored the win in goal with four saves. CMS’s Nick Kennedy netted a hat trick to pace the Stags, and goalkeeper Jake Taylor recorded nine saves.

UC San Diego only got hotter versus Cal Lutheran, riding crisp counterattacks and superior depth to a 20–9 triumph. Freshman Jackson Boettner delivered his first career hat trick (3 goals + 1 assist), while Fezzey, Hennessey, Mark Laurlund, Lucas Romaguera, and Lachlan Rossi each scored twice. Hennessey totaled four points (2G, 2A) as the Tritons stacked quarters of 4, 6, 8, and 2 goals. Hegeman matched a career high with eight saves. Levi Cook (3) and Paul Patterson (2) led the Kingsmen.

Head coach Matt Ustaszewski praised the road form and growing cohesion: “It was a great opportunity for us to travel and play two games on the road. We focused on details from last week, smoothed out early-season inconsistencies, and saw strong contributions from veterans and newcomers alike.”

Triton Tidbits

• CMS is ranked No. 3/4 (Division III); Cal Lutheran is No. 6/7 (Division III).
• UCSD topped 20 goals for the third time this season.
• Eamon Hennessey: 4 goals, 2 assists across both games; has scored in all eight contests.
• Boettner: first collegiate hat trick vs. CLU.
• Hegeman: eight saves vs. CLU (career high match).
• Rago: goals in three straight games.

What’s Next

UC San Diego plays three times next week: Sept. 12 vs. Concordia and Chapman at Cal State Fullerton’s tournament, then returns home Sept. 14 to host No. 4/5 Stanford at 12 p.m. It will mark UCSD’s fourth game against a top-seven opponent in 2025. Tickets: season and single-game options are available; call (858) 534-1430 or email triton-tix@ucsd.edu for details.

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— By Bronwyn A. Stone

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