This post was updated Nov. 24 at 11:46 p.m.

History repeats itself.

No. 1 seed UCLA men’s water polo (23-2) suffered a 15-13 upset to No. 5 seed USC (19-5) in the MPSF West Championship match for the third consecutive year after failing to capitalize on power-play opportunities, finding the back of the net only 41% of the time in five-on-six situations.

Freshman attacker Ryder Dodd took on the head of the offensive mantle, countering the Trojans’ first goal and assisting in the second. Dodd and sophomore attacker Wade Sherlock shared the limelight in the first quarter, both serving two goals apiece. 

Out of the 30 shots the Bruins took, only 13 made it into the Trojans’ net.

“We were kind of caught on our heel and chasing them the whole way. But we were pushing and forcing too many things,” said coach Adam Wright. “So the reality is we have to reset.”

With only four saves, goalkeeper Garret Griggs allowed nine Trojan goals across the first half, an unprecedented affair after his career-high 15 saves in the Bruins’ last matchup against the Trojans.

The halftime buzzer rang 9-5 in the Trojans’ favor.

“We weren’t helping Garret at all, and they (USC) were getting so many fake-offs and that was putting Garret in a tough spot,” Wright said. “And he wasn’t his best, and I thought maybe he could change and give a spark.”

 

Redshirt freshman Nate Tauscher entered the pool for the second half of the match as Griggs’ relief. Tauscher has been familiar with the crosstown rivals twice this season and went on to block the Trojans’ attempts three times in the third quarter and two in the fourth.

Although the Bruins landed the first two goals of the second half, they left two goals unanswered. Redshirt junior center Eli Liechty assisted redshirt sophomore utility Ben Larsen on the six-on-five, landing the team’s 10th goal. Liechty went on to score his own powerplay opportunity, leaving the win margin closer to the Bruins.

“I know they (USC) are going to be good for the rest of the season,” Dodd said. “So, we just have to look back on it and really focus on the water.” 

Any chance of redemption escaped the Bruins when the shot clock ran to zero.

“It was a tough spot we were in. But I don’t think anyone believed that we were out of the game yet,” Tauscher said. “I think everyone believed we were still in it, still had a good shot of taking the win.”

Last year, the Bruins had their yearlong win streak snapped by the Trojans in a similar fate. Griggs defended the Bruins’ goal, blocking the Trojans’ attempts 13 times, but ultimately allowed an equivalent number to slip past in the team’s 2023 defeat, resulting in the 13-9 upset over the then-top ranked Bruins. 

And once again, the Bruins’ win streak was snapped by their crosstown rivals as the scoreboard framed 15-13. Although the team outscored their rivals 4-3 in the fourth quarter, the Trojans’ initial lead could not be overcome. 

Despite a final attempt from Dodd to eclipse the Trojans’ net, the Bruins fell with bated breath as their MPSF title hopes were once again squandered. 

“Every moment matters. Every moment’s the same. We had a lot of missed opportunities from a defensive standpoint and offensive standpoint,” Wright said. “We tried to fight our way back in, but you don’t want to be climbing uphill the whole game. So we’ll learn from it, and we’ll be better.”