Cal State Fullerton men’s water polo opened their 2025 campaign going winless through four games at Anteater Aquatics Complex on Friday and Saturday in the UCI Invitational.
The Titans lost to No. 13 California Baptist University, No. 7 UC Irvine, Division II Concordia University Irvine and No. 16 Loyola Marymount University.
CSUF was outscored 43-59 over the weekend. Goalkeeper Ethan Ivey totaled 38 saves, while enduring a barrage of 126 shots across the four games.
Graduate student Alec Isaacman scored seven goals and led the Titans with 11 goals through the weekend.
The final game of the tournament featured plenty of action as California Baptist University won, 19-15, late Saturday afternoon.
The Lancers traded goals with the Titans through the first half, leading at the half 8-6. The two teams then traded five goals each in the third, though CSUF couldn’t overcome the two goal deficit and the defense couldn’t slow down CBU, as they ultimately surrendered 19 goals.
The Titans’ defensive struggles continued against No. 7 UC Irvine in their third game of the tournament, as they were soundly defeated, 15-8.
Isaacman and Ethan MacLeod combined for half of the Titans’ goals, throwing in two apiece. Julian Nichols, Luke Vargas, Andrew Barnuevo and Samuel Branco each contributed a goal in the loss.
The Anteaters dictated the tempo of the game from the start, scoring the games’ first five goals in the first period.
CSUF started their second game strong, leading through the first half of play against Concordia University Irvine on Friday evening. Disappointingly, the Titans failed to keep producing offensively as the Golden Eagles’ big third quarter allowed them to win, 8-6.
Isaacman led the Titans with two goals and an assist in the loss, while newcomers MacLeod, Vargas and Francesco Schiaffino each scored their first goal for the program.
The Titans held a 3-2 lead at the end of the first half, outshooting the Golden Eagles 34 to 24. However, Concordias’ five-goal third quarter proved to be the difference as the Titans could not catch up.
CSUF opened their season against No. 16 Loyola Marymount University in a high-scoring affair that saw the Lions pull away late, 17-14, on Friday afternoon.
Jacob Hatch and Nichols combined for seven of the game’s goals, scoring three and four, respectively. Overall, seven different Titans scored a goal in the matchup.
Going into the second quarter knotted up at five apiece, CSUF could not stop LMU for the rest of the game. The Lions added five goals to the Titans’ two, taking a 10-7 lead at halftime.
Every Titan goal was met with an answer from the Lions. CSUF desperately tried to overcome their three-goal deficit going into the final frame, but ultimately fell short.
The Titans play their next tournament in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the United States Air Force Academy in the Rare Air Challenge.
First sprint against Division II Augustana University is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.





