With success at home and on the road, the Bruins’ undefeated streak continues.

Despite posting their lowest first half score of the season, No. 1 UCLA men’s water polo (6-0) took down No. 9 UC Irvine (2-4) at Anteater Aquatics Complex on Friday. The Bruins returned to Spieker Aquatics Center to take down No. 20 Cal Baptist University (1-4) on Saturday.

“It’s still early in the year, so we’re still trying to work out some kinks,” said graduate student center Nico Tierney. “We have a lot of new guys coming in, a lot of talented freshmen that we’re trying to integrate into the team, so I think it’s just part of the process of us getting to know each other a little bit better.”

In their match against the Anteaters, the Bruins held a 6-4 lead at halftime thanks to contributions from sophomore attacker Wade Sherlock, who led the team with three points.

UCLA outscored Irvine 3-2 in the third quarter, extending its lead to three points going into the final period. Redshirt junior attacker Chase Dodd netted his second goal early in the quarter, followed by freshman attacker Bode Brinkema’s first of the game. After both teams exchanged goals, Dodd added another on a power play before UC Irvine closed the quarter with a penalty shot.

A buzzer beater goal from graduate student attacker Jack Larsen solidified the Bruins’ 12-9 victory over the Anteaters – the closest margin of any of their games this season.

“Definitely thought today (against Cal Baptist) was better than yesterday (against Irvine),” said redshirt junior center Eli Liechty. “It was still kind of a slow start, but we were able to push the counterattack, and we were able to do the things we wanted to do better in the second half.”

UCLA returned to Westwood for its home opener against Cal Baptist and its second and final match of the weekend.

In the second quarter, UCLA dominated the score board with nine goals to Cal Baptist’s three, stretching the lead to 14-6 by halftime. Freshman attacker Ryder Dodd and Larsen each scored on power plays, while Brinkema added two quick goals to build the lead.

“With the scoring, we’re still working on a lot of different combinations, new guys playing with each other,” said coach Adam Wright. “It goes in spurts that’s going to get better as we know each other.”

The Bruins shutout the Lancers 2-0 during the third period, with Larsen scoring a power-play goal early on and Sherlock adding another from the front. Heading into the final quarter, UCLA took a 16-6 lead.

Liechty led the team in earned exclusions and turnovers in the match, leaving opportunities for a season-high 14 Bruins to add to the scoreboard.

“It’s their ability to pass and my ability to hold one side,” Liechty said. “It just makes everything easier, and then we get rewarded with a 6-on-5.”

In the final two minutes of the game, Liechty drew a penalty that allowed Brinkema to complete his hat trick and sent the Bruins to victory with a final score of 19-8.

Watching from the stands were members of the women’s water polo team and two-time National Player of the Year Sean Kern.

Kern, who was recently inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, competed with Wright on the team that won back-to-back national championships in 1999 and 2000.

“Sean was a teammate and roommate of mine, and having him back here is really important for these guys to realize that they can be the next Sean currently,” Wright said. “It’s amazing for the program, and it just means a lot.”