UCLA wins 2020 NC men's water polo championship
UCLA wins the 2020 NC men's water polo championship
In a clashing of men's water polo titans, USC and UCLA battled it out on Sunday with the Bruins coming away on top 7-6. It's the 12th championship in program history and the first since 2017. Watch the full replay here.
UCLA got out to a 3-0 lead early, but the Trojans responded with a run of their own to tie the game at four. The second half proved to be a more defensive battle as the Bruins jumped ahead by two goals in the fourth and held onto the lead. View the game recap here.
UCLA and USC never disappoints. This was the 7th meeting between the two in the championship game, with the Bruins breaking the split this year.
UCLA, USC to meet Sunday to decide 2020 NC men's water polo championship
And just like that we're down to the final two! UCLA and USC will battle it out Sunday at 5 p.m. ET for the NC men's water polo crown.
Both of the semifinals were close contested matchups. UCLA knocked off defending champion and top seeded Stanford 11-10 in the first game of the evening, while USC topped Cal by a score of 12-10. You can view all the highlights from the semifinals here.
The Bruins were led by a pair of sophomores in Bernardo Maurizi and Tommy Gruwell. Gruwell netted a hat trick of goals, while Maurizi spent the entire game in goal for UCLA, tallying seven saves.
Meanwhile, a late push helped USC in the semifinal. The Trojans outscored Cal 5-2 in the final quarter, led by four goals from junior Jake Ehrhardt and three more from freshman Carson Kranz.
The championship game is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. You can watch the livestream here on NCAA.com.
Semifinals set for Saturday
The 2020 NC men's water polo championship runs from March 18-21 with all games at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles. On Saturday March 20, two semifinal matches will take place. Both games will be live streamed on NCAA.com.
UCLA and USC picked up wins in opening round matches to earn a spot in the semifinals.
Below is today's schedule:
Saturday, March 20
Semifinal game 1: UCLA 11 vs. Stanford 10 | HIGHLIGHTS
Semifinal game 2: USC 12 vs. Cal 10 | HIGHLIGHTS
You can view the full bracket here.
The championship game is set for 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 21.
UCLA, USC pick up quarterfinal victories
The opening round of the 2020 NC men's water polo championships are complete as UCLA and USC earned spots in this year's semifinals. You can watch the highlights from both matches here.
The Bruins topped California Baptist 19-14 with eight different players scoring goals for UCLA. Junior Jake Cavano led the Bruins with five goals while Nicolas Saveljic and Gabe Discipulo added three goals apiece.
USC rolled 18-9 past Bucknell behind six points each from sophomore Chris Sturtevant and junior Jake Ehrhardt. Sturtevant registered four assists and a pair of goals while Erhardt netted five goals and a single assist.
The 2020 NC men's water polo championship will resume on Saturday, March 20 with the semifinals right here on NCAA.com.
Opening-round action begins Thursday, March 18
The 2020 NC men's water polo championship runs from March 18-21, 2021 with all games at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles. On Thursday, two opening-round matches will take pace. Both games will be live streamed on NCAA.com.
March 18
You can view the full bracket here.
The winner of UCLA vs. Cal Baptist will advance to the semifinals to take on Stanford on March 20. The winner of Bucknell vs. USC will move on to play Cal in the other semifinal match.
NC men's water polo championship field announced
Here's the schedule for the 2020 NC men's water polo championship
The 2020 NC men's water polo championship runs from March 18-21, 2021 with all games at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles. Below is the full event schedule. Live stream links will be made available soon. Teams who qualify for this year's tournament will be revealed on Sunday, March 7 via press release. Live coverage of the semifinals and final from March 20-21 will be streaming right here on NCAA.com.
* All times listed in ET
March 18
Opening round: UCLA 19 vs. Cal Baptist 14
Opening round: USC 18 vs. Bucknell 9
March 20
Semifinal: UCLA 11 vs. Stanford 10
Semifinal: USC 12 vs. Cal 10
March 21
National championship: UCLA 7 vs. USC 6 | Uytengsu Aquatics Center
Men's college water polo championship history
Stanford topped Pacific 13-8 to win the NC men's water polo national championship in 2019. It was the Cardinal's 11th national title and first since 2002.
Click or tap here for the complete breakdown of the 2019 tournament. Below is a year-by year summary of every men's water polo national champion, since 1969.
| YEAR | CHAMPION (RECORD) | COACH | SCORE | RUNNER-UP | SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Stanford (21-2) | John Vargas | 13-8 | Pacific | Stockton, Calif. |
| 2018 | Southern California (29-3) | Jovan Vavic | 14-12 | Stanford | Palo Alto, Calif. |
| 2017 | UCLA (21-4) | Adam Wright | 7-5 | Southern California | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 2016 | California (22-4) | Kirk Everist | 11-8 (ot) | Southern California | Berkeley, Calif. |
| 2015 | UCLA (30-0) | Adam Wright | 10-7 | Southern California | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 2014 | UCLA (29-3) | Adam Wright | 9-8 | Southern California | La Jolla, Calif. |
| 2013 | Southern California (28-4) | Jovan Vavic | 12-11 (2ot) | Pacific | Palo Alto, Calif. |
| 2012 | Southern California (29-0) | Jovan Vavic | 11-10 | UCLA | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 2011 | Southern California (24-3) | Jovan Vavic | 7-4 | UCLA | California |
| 2010 | Southern California (28-2) | Jovan Vavic | 12-10 (2ot) | California | California |
| 2009 | Southern California (26-2) | Jovan Vavic | 7-6 | UCLA | Princeton |
| 2008 | Southern California (29-0) | Jovan Vavic | 7-5 | Stanford | Stanford |
| 2007 | California (28-4) | Kirk Everist | 8-6 | Southern California | Stanford |
| 2006 | California (31-4) | Kirk Everist | 7-6 | Southern California | Loyola Marymount |
| 2005 | Southern California (26-1) | Jovan Vavic | 3-2 | Stanford | Bucknell |
| 2004 | UCLA (25-3) | Adam Krikorian | 10-9 (ot) | Stanford | Stanford |
| 2003 | Southern California (24-3) | Jovan Vavic | 9-7(ot) | Stanford | Stanford |
| 2002 | Stanford (24-5) | John Vargas | 7-6 | California | Loyola Marymount |
| 2001 | Stanford (22-1) | Dante Dettamanti | 8-5 | UCLA | Stanford |
| 2000 | UCLA (19-7) | Guy Baker/Adam Krikorian | 11-2 | UC San Diego | Malibu, Calif. |
| 1999 | UCLA (22-3) | Guy Baker/Adam Krikorian | 6-5 | Stanford | La Jolla, Calif. |
| 1998 | Southern California (25-3) | John Williams/Jovan Vavic | 9-8 (2ot) | Stanford | Newport Beach, Calif. |
| 1997 | Pepperdine (25-3) | Terry Schoroeder | 8-7 (2ot) | Southern California | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| 1996 | UCLA (24-6) | Guy Baker | 8-7 | Southern California | UC San Diego |
| 1995 | UCLA (20-6) | Guy Baker | 10-8 | California | Stanford |
| 1994 | Stanford (27-1) | Dante Dettamanti | 14-10 | Southern California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1993 | Stanford (24-6) | Dante Dettamanti | 11-9 | Southern California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1992 | California (31-0) | Steve Heaston | 12-11 (3ot) | Stanford | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1991 | California (26-1) | Steve Heaston | 7-6 | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1990 | California (29-1) | Steve Heaston | 8-7 | Stanford | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1989 | UC Irvine (27-6) | Ted Newland | 9-8 | California | Indianapolis |
| 1988 | California (33-3) | Pete Cutino | 14-11 | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1987 | California (27-3) | Pete Cutino | 9-8 (ot) | Southern California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1986 | Stanford (36-0) | Dante Dettamanti | 9-6 | California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1985 | Stanford (25-4) | Dante Dettamanti | 12-11 (2ot) | UC Irvine | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1984 | California (26-4-1) | Pete Cutino | 9-8 | Stanford | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1983 | California (29-3-2) | Pete Cutino | 10-7 | Southern California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1982 | UC Irvine (30-0) | Ted Newland | 7-4 | Stanford | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1981 | Stanford (31-0) | Dante Dettamanti | 17-6 | Long Beach State | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1980 | Stanford (28-2-1) | Dante Dettamanti | 8-6 | California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1979 | UC Santa Barbara (27-2-1) | Pete Snyder | 11-3 | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1978 | Stanford (26-1-1) | Dante Dettamanti | 7-6 (3ot) | California | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1977 | California (29-3) | Pete Cutino | 9-6 | UC Irvine | Brown |
| 1976 | Stanford (20-2) | Art Lambert | 13-12 | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1975 | California (22-6) | Pete Cutino | 9-8 | UC Irvine | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1974 | California (25-2) | Pete Cutino | 7-6 | UC Irvine | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1973 | California (25-1) | Pete Cutino | 8-4 | UC Irvine | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1972 | UCLA (19-1) | Bob Horn | 10-5 | UC Irvine | New Mexico |
| 1971 | UCLA (18-1) | Bob Horn | 5-3 | San Jose State | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1970 | UC Irvine (27-2) | Ted Newland | 7-6 (3ot) | UCLA | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1969 | UCLA (19-0) | Bob Horn | 5-2 | California | Long Beach, Calif. |
You can watch the full replay of last year's national championship below.