LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The No. 13-ranked Princeton University men’s water polo team began its California road trip with a 23-10 loss at No. 1 the University of California-Los Angeles.
The Bruins got off to a quick lead and never let up in pouncing on the Tigers.
Luka Franulovic scored the first goal of the day for the Tigers after the Bruins took a two score lead. UCLA then outscored Princeton 9-2 in the first quarter.
The Tigers scored another pair in the second quarter thanks to Luke Johnston and Ádám Peocz.
Princeton had its best offensive output in the third frame, scoring four goals from three different Tigers.
For Princeton, Taylor Bell and Logan McCarroll led the way with pairs of goals, while Nathan Banos, Franulovic, Johnston, Finn LeSieur, Peocz and Tigran Sennett accounting for solo tallies.
Pierre du Plessis posted seven saves in the loss.
UCLA had 12 different players score (13th time in 18 games this season the Bruins had 10 or more people find the back of the net), paced by Ryder Dodd’s season-high eight points five goals and three assists. Bode Brinkema scored a career-high-tying four goals (for the third time) to go with a pair of assists for eight total points. Frederico Jucá Carsalade, Ben Liechty, Gray Carson and Noah Rowe rounded out the half dozen Bruins to score multiple goals in the game, each with two scores.
Nate Tauscher got the starting nod and played the first 27:20 (subbed out with 4:40 to go in the fourth), tallying a six saves and two assists while allowing eight scores. Nick Tovani played 2:40 in the fourth quarter, allowing the other two goals. Joey Kent played the final two minutes of the game, making one save and one steal.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
