LA JOLLA, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's water polo team fell 22-4 to UC San Diego and 22-10 to Bucknell to start the 2024 season.

The Bobcats ten goals scored against Bucknell is tied for the second highest scoring output against a NCAA Division I team in program history.

Match One | UC San Diego 22, UC Merced 4

Despite the season opening loss, Andrew Jones highlighted the Bobcats offense with his eighth career hat-trick and his third against a NCAA Division I team. Camden Peterson also scored for the Bobcats, picking up right where he left off in 2023 and he has now scored in seven consecutive games dating back to last season.

Bennett Axline led the Tritons with four early goals to help UC San Diego build a 9-0 advantage just over eleven minutes into the contest. Jones got the Bobcats on the board with 3:41 to go in the first half, the Bobcats only first half goal.

Peterson scored for UC Merced in the third quarter but the Bobcats trailed 18-2 entering the final frame.

Jones kept battling and completed his hat trick with a pair of goals inside the last four minutes.

Matthew Lloyd got the start in the cage and tallied 14 saves for the Bobcats.

Match Two | Bucknell 22, UC Merced 10

Head coach Johnny Bega's offense found more success in the afternoon game and five different Bobcats deposited at least one shot into the back of the net.

Vincent Labonte led the way with five goals, a program-record against NCAA Division I opponents.

Peterson added two goals and he scored his first goal in the opening minute to give the Bobcats their first lead of the season. Aydann Hambruch, Evan Ladeairous, and William Pezold scored one goal each later in the match.

The Bobcats trailed 7-3 at the end of the first quarter and 11-5 at halftime. UC Merced trailed by at least six goals the rest of the day.

Lloyd logged all 32 minutes in the cage and was credited with eleven saves.

 Looking ahead, UC Merced will play reigning USA Water Polo Division III national champion CMS as well as eleventh-ranked NCAA Division 1 foe UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, September 8 to wrap up the Triton Invitational.