The University of California, Los Angeles men’s water polo team, ranked No. 1 and undefeated at 12-0, will host No. 4 Fordham on September 25, 2026, at 5 p.m. PT at Spieker Aquatics Center in an MPSF conference matchup. Fresh off winning their fourth consecutive Overnght MPSF Invitational championship, UCLA is buoyed by the clutch performance of freshman utility player Luka Gladović, who scored the championship-winning goal with one second remaining in the final against No. 3 Stanford.
Gladović, a native of Belgrade, Serbia, led the tournament with nine goals and earned MPSF West/S&R Sport Newcomer of the Week honors. His contributions helped UCLA secure an 11-10 victory over Stanford at the Avery Aquatic Center and highlighted the Bruins’ depth and resilience.
UCLA holds a 4-0 series advantage against Fordham, most recently defeating the Rams 16-9 on September 6, 2025. Following the Fordham game, UCLA will face No. 13 Pepperdine on September 26 at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.
The 2026 Bruins lineup features key returnees from last season’s NCAA Championship team, including junior attacker Ryder Dodd, the 2026 Peter J. Cutino Award recipient and leading scorer with 98 goals in 2025, and fifth-year attacker Frederico Jucá Carsalade, the 2025 NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player. These experienced players anchor a team aiming to replicate last year’s success.
Head coach Adam Wright brings extensive acclaim with six NCAA men’s water polo championships as UCLA’s head coach and multiple Coach of the Year awards, guiding a squad recognized as a national powerhouse in collegiate water polo.
CSB Take
UCLA men’s water polo’s undefeated record and recent tournament success reinforce its status as the team to beat in the 2026 season. Freshman Luka Gladović’s emergence adds a dynamic edge to a roster stacked with proven scorers, including Ryder Dodd and Frederico Jucá Carsalade. This weekend’s matchup against Fordham represents a significant test as UCLA pursues another championship run and continues to assert dominance in the MPSF and nationally.
Source: Original report
