STANFORD, Calif. - There have been lots of firsts this season for the Concordia University Irvine men's water polo team and this Friday marks another first for the Golden Eagles.
 
The WWPA Champions are the No. 8 seed on the national stage and will face No. 1 seed USC on the campus of Stanford University. CUI is 13-3 in its past 16 games dating back to the beginning of October and enjoying its best season in the program's NCAA DII era.
 
Here's what you need to know ahead of Friday's NCAA Quarterfinal playoff game.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Live Stream: CLICK HERE
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Tournament Central: CLICK HERE
 
WHEN and WHERE: CUI vs USC – Friday, Dec 5 at 12 pm PT at Avery Aquatic Center in Stanford, Calif.
 
Tickets Info: CLICK HERE
 
FOLLOW ALL THESE FIRSTS
- The Golden Eagles won their first WWPA conference title to secure their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth by defeating their rivals from Biola 9-5 in the WWPA Championship Game.
 
- CUI enters the NCAA Tournament with 21 wins - the most in program history in the NCAA D2 era for the team & the first time the program has eclipsed 20 or more wins since 2013.
 
- CUI's goalie Pablo de Souza was named WWPA Player of the Year and the first goalie to earn that honor in five years. He shattered the school record for most saves in a season and has collected 333 stops entering the NCAA Tournament.
 
FRESHMEN FIREPOWER
- CUI's two leading scorers are both freshmen and international student-athletes who were named First Team All-WWPA. Hugo Wouters (WWPA Newcomer of the Year) & Dimitrios Koritsas each have racked up over 100 points. Koritsas leads the Golden Eagles with 70 goals while Wouters has a team-high 41 recorded assists.
 
COACH 'EM UP
- CUI's Justin Johnson was named WWPA Coach of the Year. Johnson is a UCLA alum and also earned his master's degree at Concordia while working as a graduate assistant coach a decade prior to taking the helm as head coach in 2023.
 
The winner of Friday's match will advance to the NCAA semifinals on Saturday and play either No. 4 seed Fordham or No. 5 seed San Jose State. That semifinal game on that side of the bracket will be Saturday at 2 pm PT.
 
CLICK HERE for the NCAA Bracket
 
CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's water polo schedule