Perhaps it was the chaos associated with the first day of classes or maybe the malfunctioning game clock. Whatever it was, it appears that there was something distracting the UCLA men’s water polo team in Thursday’s game.
Despite beating No. 9 Loyola Marymount 10-5, the No. 4 UCLA men’s water polo team lacked their typical intensity at the Lions’ Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center Thursday afternoon.
“They were very distracted,” coach Adam Krikorian said. “I don’t think LMU played very well. I think that is part of the reason why we were so comfortable out there, but we were very slow and distracted.”
During the first quarter, the game clock froze for over a minute before referees stopped the game. It created an obvious disruption as the players were forced to hang out poolside as the officials talked things over.
Regardless of the timing malfunctions and other distractions, there was one player who maintained a high, consistent level of competition: redshirt junior Christian Pulido.
“Pulido was one of the bright spots,” Krikorian said. “He played aggressively on defense and had a lot of patience on offense.”
Scoring a goal in the first quarter and two in the third, Pulido’s patience produced positive results for the team.
“Patience is something I have groomed here at UCLA,” Pulido said. “After being injured for a year, I gained invaluable perspective.”
The play of Pulido’s teammates, however, didn’t have the same positive result.
After scoring a goal in the first quarter, redshirt junior Grant Zider was called on a brutality foul which got him kicked out of the game and may keep him out of play on Saturday as well.
The implications of Zider’s ejection may prove detrimental to the Bruins record come Saturday, but with the loss of a starter, one of the younger, less heralded players will need to step into a less familiar role.
The Bruins cannot afford distractions in any more of their matches this season as their future opponents will likely capitalize on slower play. Starting with a match against No. 7 UC Irvine on Saturday, the Bruins will need to regain the focus lacking in the game against LMU.
“If we come out flat like we did today, we’ll definitely be beaten by Irvine,” junior goalie Will Didinger said.
With a win against Irvine, UCLA hopes to gain confidence heading into the match against UC Berkeley Oct. 8, who the Bruins fell to earlier this season at the SoCal Tournament.
“We have to keep building up for our games against Berkeley and Princeton,” Pulido said. “We have the rest of a tough season to go.”
UCLA is looking to sharpen its play before the Berkeley game. Krikorian highlights a renewed focus as a key to getting back on track.
“We’ve got a big game ahead of us and the focus needs to be brought back,” Krikorian said.
“I’m a little concerned. Distractions need to go and our over-confidence from the win against Pepperdine needs to turn into work ethic and intensity,” Krikorian said.