The No. 19 UC Santa Barbara Women’s Water Polo team (1-3) travels to La Jolla this weekend to compete in the Triton Invitational, hosted by UC San Diego at Canyonview Aquatic Center. Coming off a 17-7 victory over Biola, the Gauchos face a challenging schedule that begins Friday against No. 11 UC Irvine.
Last Time Out
Santa Barbara’s recent performance has been mixed, following a loss to No. 2 USC and a win against Biola. Eliza Harlow scored her first collegiate hat trick in the Biola game, while Hadley Hall contributed four goals. Lainey Weintre added two goals and three assists, and Siena Jumani recorded 11 saves in goal. Cami Mras scored five goals across both matches, and Mia Sullivan tallied her first collegiate goal against USC.
Looking Ahead
The Gauchos’ Saturday opponent will depend on the outcome of their Friday match against UC Irvine. A win would pit them against either No. 5 Hawai’i or Concordia Irvine, while a loss would mean facing the loser of those two teams. The tournament continues through Sunday, with Santa Barbara’s final opponents determined by their results throughout the weekend.
Scouting the Competition
UC Irvine (1-3) is looking to rebound after losses to Fresno State, Indiana, and Cal following a win over San Jose State. The Gauchos will be seeking revenge after UC Irvine won their last matchup, a 12-11 decision in the Big West Quarterfinal. No. 5 Hawai’i (2-1) enters the tournament as a top contender, coming off a 2025 season where they won The Big West Championship and finished with a 22-5 record. Concordia Irvine (1-1) will also be competing, having split their first two games of the season.
The tournament field also includes No. 6 Long Beach State, No. 13 UC San Diego, No. 16 UC Davis, No. 2 USC, No. 3 UCLA, No. 7 Loyola Marymount, No. 11 Arizona State, No. 17 Michigan, No. 21 San Diego State, and No. 24 Pomona-Pitzer, as well as Cal State Fullerton and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Game Details
The Gauchos and Anteaters will begin play at 4 p.m. on Friday. Tournament results and updated schedules will be available at ucsbgauchos.com. Games will not be live-streamed, but live stats will be available for contests featuring UC San Diego. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UC Santa Barbara Women’s Water Polo team’s current record?
The UC Santa Barbara Women’s Water Polo team’s current record is 1-3.
Who will the Gauchos play first at the Triton Invitational?
The Gauchos will play No. 11 UC Irvine on Friday at 4 p.m.
Where can I find the most up-to-date tournament schedule?
The most up-to-date schedule can be found at ucsbgauchos.com.
How will the Gauchos’ performance in the first game impact their remaining schedule at the Triton Invitational?
