The UCLA Men's Lacrosse Team competed in the 2025 Faceoff vs. Leukemia tournament in Santa Barbara on November 15. It marked the program's first appearance at the annual event hosted by UCSB, where the Bruins battled through steady rain in matchups against Cal Poly, Cal, and SBCC.
UCLA opened the day with a gritty performance against last season's No. 11–ranked Cal Poly, trading goals in a physical, weather-soaked contest before ultimately running out of time in a narrow 7–6 loss. The Bruins continued to show resilience in their second game against Cal, in a back-and-forth effort, eventually falling 7–3. UCLA closed the tournament on a strong note, using its full depth in a sharp 7–5 win over SBCC that gave the entire roster meaningful in-game experience.
The weekend served as a strong early-season benchmark, offering a clearer sense of the team's strengths, areas for growth, and contributors poised to make an impact. Several Bruins stood out statistically throughout the event, including a 5-goal day for Senior Captain Collin Shiang, including a 4-goal performance against Cal Poly, a 10-save performance vs. Cal Poly by Sophomore Goalie Drew Hummer, a 5-GB performance against Cal for Rookie Defender Michael Bongiorno, and first collegiate goals for Freshmen Nate Takata and TJ Britt.Â
The tournament marked a strong end to the Bruins' 7-week fall ball schedule, in which the team also secured a 10-0 victory in a scrimmage against LMU. The Bruins look ahead to the 2026 Spring Season with anticipation and confidence.Â
