This post was updated Oct. 1 at 12:23 a.m.

The final game before conference play can be the perfect time to test emerging strategies.

No. 1 UCLA men’s water polo (15-0) did just that against No. 12 Loyola Marymount (4-7), winning 22-10 at the Burns Center on Saturday. The victory marked UCLA’s 18th consecutive triumph, a streak that began in 2024.

Coach Adam Wright opted to start redshirt freshman goalkeeper Nick Tovani after just six prior appearances. The Danville, California, local recorded three saves along with a steal in his first collegiate start. In his three quarters of play, Tovani allowed nine goals – matching or exceeding the number UCLA has conceded in a majority of its contests this season.

Wright will likely revert to goalkeeper Nate Tauscher – who boasts a 58% save rate – in UCLA’s upcoming matches. The redshirt sophomore has allowed double-digit goals just once in 2025 and has played the entire match in half of the Bruins’ games this year.

Sophomore attacker Ryder Dodd continues to lead the Bruins’ attack, topping the MPSF with 47 total goals and an average of 3.36 per contest. The reigning ACWPC Player of the Year scored five goals against the Lions, his ninth hat trick or better across 14 appearances this season.

Sophomore utility Bode Brinkema and junior attacker Wade Sherlock scored three goals each, with the former having at least that many for the fourth time this season and the latter achieving his first hat trick of the season. Brinkema is tied for third on the team with 51 points across 15 performances. Redshirt senior attacker Chase Dodd – Ryder Dodd’s brother – matches Brinkema’s point tally.

The Liechtys joined in the family festivities too, with redshirt senior center Eli Liechty delivering his second hat trick of the year and junior utility Ben Liechty notching a pair of scores. The younger Liechty ranks second on the team with 58 total points thus far.

UCLA reached the net on more than 75% of its shot attempts and recorded an assist on more than half of its goals. The Bruins also nabbed 11 steals to the Lions’ five and drew five more exclusions. UCLA limited LMU to a 45.5% shot percentage.

Attackers Alika Naone and Tommaso Baldineti led the Lions’ offense, notching four and three goals, respectively. The former matched his season-high goal mark on six shots, and the latter added two assists in his performance.

With less than two months until the postseason, UCLA shifts its focus to the MPSF, a conference featuring the top four teams in the ACWPC poll. The Bruins got their first look at No. 4 Stanford and No. 2 California during the Overnght MPSF Invitational on Sept. 20 and 21, respectively, when they bested both by just three combined points. A rematch against both conference foes will occur this upcoming weekend – without a home-pool advantage.

UCLA avoided its crosstown rival after No. 3 USC lost to California in the Overnght MPSF Invitational semifinal, although USC eventually claimed third in the tournament. The Bruins will face the Trojans for the first time since defeating them in the 2024 national championship.

But before the Bruins can fight to reclaim championship glory, they must push through a grueling conference slate against the country’s top-ranked programs.