A total of 10 Bruins scored against the Tigers, including six with multiple goals.
No. 1 UCLA Advances to NCAA Semifinals, Beats Salem, 22-6
STANFORD, Calif. -- No. 1 UCLA (24-2) advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship with a 22-6 win over No. 20 Salem (20-4) in the opening round at Avery Aquatic Center on Friday afternoon. This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
UCLA, which scored the first seven goals of the game, had 10 players score in the contest, paced by a season-high four goals from graduate Jack Larsen and four goals from freshman Ryder Dodd. Freshman Peter Castillo and redshirt junior Eli Liechty both scored their third hat tricks of the season against the Tigers. Redshirt junior Chase Dodd and graduate transfer Nico Tierney each scored twice in the contest.
Graduate student Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and played the first quarter, pitching a shutout while recording three blocks and one steal. Redshirt freshman Nate Tauscher came on in relief and played the final three quarters, registering 10 saves while surrendering six scores.
The Bruins led 5-0 at the end of the first period and 9-2 at halftime.
UCLA won the third period, 7-3, to take a 16-5 advantage into the final stanza. The Bruins won the fourth quarter, 6-1, to provide the 22-6 final.
UP NEXT: The top-seeded Bruins will now face the fourth-seeded tournament hosts, Stanford, in tomorrow's first semifinal at 2:00 p.m. PST. Stanford advanced with a 15-8 win over No. 5 Princeton.
No. 20 Salem vs. No. 1 UCLA (2024 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship - Opening Round - Stanford, Calif. - Game 26)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 20 Salem | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
6x5 - UCLA - 6/18 - SU - 2/8
Penalties - UCLA - 4/4 - SU - 3/3
SU Goals: Danko Kesic 2, Marko Zivojinovic 2, Ivan Zivojinovic 1, Antonio Sablic 1
SU Saves: Goncalo Silva 5
UCLA Goals: Jack Larsen 4, Ryder Dodd 4, Eli Liechty 3, Peter Castillo 3, Chase Dodd 2, Nico Tierney 2, Marcell Szécsi 1, Wade Sherlock 1, Ben Larsen 1, Gray Carson 1
UCLA Saves: Nate Tauscher 10, Garret Griggs 3
