Courtesy: UCLA Athletics
LOS ANGELES — No. 1 UCLA (14-0) completed a three-peat of the Overnght MPSF Invitational title with an 11-9 come-from-behind win over No. 3 California (10-1) in a battle of the last unbeaten teams in the nation on Saturday late afternoon at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins improved to 98-77-1 all-time against the Golden Bears.
The Bruins’ offense was led by a game-high and season-high-tying five goals from sophomore Ryder Dodd. Redshirt senior Chase Dodd had a hat trick, and at one point of the game, the Dodd brothers had scored eight goals to California’s eight goals.
Redshirt sophomore Nate Tauscher got the starting nod and went the distance, tallying 11 saves and two steals while allowing nine goals.
The Golden Bears scored the first three goals of the game, but Ryder Dodd scored two unanswered to pull the Bruins to within one at 3-2 to end the first period. The two teams battled to a 2-2 draw in the second quarter as California clung to a 5-4 lead at halftime. After Cal scored the first goal of the third period to lead 6-4, the Bruins got one goal each from Ryder Dodd (5:11), Marcell Szécsi (4:32), and Chase Dodd (3:33) to take its first lead of the game at 7-6. The Bruins would win the third period, 4-2, to take an 8-7 lead into the final stanza. UCLA won the fourth period, 3-2, with Ryder Dodd scoring the eventual game-winning goal on a power play with 4:13 to go. Junior Ben Liechty was held scoreless in the contest, but found other ways to help his team win, recording three assists and drawing two exclusions.
Up Next: The Bruins head crosstown to face No. 13 LMU (4-5) for their only game of the week on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1:00 p.m. PT at Burns Center.
No. 3 California at No. 1 UCLA (Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center – Game 14)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 3 California | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
6×5 – UCLA – 4/13 – CAL – 4/11
Penalties – UCLA – 1/1 – CAL- 0/1
CAL Goals: Maddox Arlett 2, Chase Wilson 2, Nik Mirkovic 2, Dom Brown 1, Marci Szatmary 1, William Kelly 1
CAL Saves: Aran Pina 4
UCLA Goals: Ryder Dodd 5, Chase Dodd 3, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Marcell Szécsi 1, Bode Brinkema 1
UCLA Saves: Nate Tauscher 11
Courtesy: Cal Athletics
LOS ANGELES – The No. 3 California men’s water polo team (10-1) fell in the championship game of the Overnght MPSF Invitational to No. 1 UCLA (14-0), the defending NCAA champions, 11-9 on Sunday at Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles.
The Golden Bears suffered their first loss of the season after starting the season on a 10-game winning streak, which included six wins against ranked opponents. The Bears were held to their lowest scoring output of the season in the defensive battle against the Bruins.
How it happened:
No. 3 Cal – 9 | No. 1 UCLA – 11
- Cal opened the game with three straight goals.
- UCLA scored two goals in the final two minutes of the first period.
- Both teams scored two goals in the second frame.
- The Bears held a 5-4 advantage at the halfway point.
- The Bruins scored three consecutive goals in the third to take their first lead of the game.
- Cal missed seven shots in the third period.
- The Bears had five costly turnovers in the fourth.
- The Bruins outscored the Bears 3-2 in the final period.
- Aran Pina tallied a game-high four steals with four saves.
- Chase Wilson, Nik Mirkovic and Maddox Arlett scored two goals apiece.
- Six Bears scored at least one goal.
- The Bears forced 13 turnovers, including nine steals.
- Cal earned 12 exclusions in the game.
- Both teams executed on four power-play opportunities throughout the contest.
NEXT UP
Cal returns to Berkeley for a three-game homestand beginning on Saturday against Pepperdine at 1 p.m. PT.
