UCLA, Cal headline eight-team Water Polo Championship field

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Men’s Water Polo Committee announced today the eight teams vying for the 2017 National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo Championship. The top two seeds have been placed in the bracket; the remaining six teams will compete for the last two berths in the bracket via four opening round games. The opening round games will be contested Nov. 25, hosted by Harvard and Pacific, and Nov. 30, hosted by Southern California, which will also host the championship will be held Dec. 2 and 3. The semifinal and championship games will be played at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles and streamed live on NCAA.com.

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In the first opening round game, Pacific (19-5) will host Pomona-Pitzer (24-10). The winner will advance to the third opening round game to play UC Davis (22-6), with the winner advancing to the championship bracket to play UCLA (19-4) at Southern California. In the second opening round game, Harvard (23-7) will host George Washington (17-11). The winner will advance to the fourth opening round game to play Southern California (25-3), with the winner advancing to the championship bracket to play California (20-3). Game times for the opening round games are yet to be determined. Game times for the semifinals are 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. ET Dec. 2, and the championship game will be played at 6 p.m. ET Dec. 3.

Conferences receiving automatic qualification included the Collegiate Water Polo Association, Golden Coast Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Northeast Water Polo Conference, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Western Water Polo Association. The remaining two teams were selected at-large without geographical restrictions.

In 2016, California defeated Southern California, 11-8 to capture its 14th national championship title. For updated championship results, log on to NCAA.com.