No. 2 UCLA Men’s Water Polo Downs No. 4 Cal 18-12 At Home

Courtesy: UCLA Athletics

LOS ANGELES — No. 2 UCLA (20-1, 4-1 MPSF West) used a 6-0 scoring run to thwart an upset bid by visiting California, beating the Golden Bears 18-12 on Sunday afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins improved to 100-77-1 all-time against the Golden Bears.

The Bruins’ offense was paced by a game- and season-high seven goals from sophomore Ryder Dodd. Four other Bruins scored multiple goals against Cal, which included the sixth hat trick of the year for sophomore Bode Brinkema and two scores each from senior Gray Carson and redshirt juniors Frederico Jucá Carsalade and Ben Larsen.

Redshirt sophomore Nate Tauscher got the starting nod and went the distance, tallying seven saves, two steals, and one assist while allowing 12 goals.

California jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but UCLA scored the last three goals of the opening period to lead 4-3 at the end of the first. UCLA scored the first three goals of the second period to build a 7-3 lead and were never threatened again. The Bruins exploded for seven goals in the third period, winning the quarter 7-4 to take a 15-9 lead into the final frame. Both teams would battle to a 3-3 draw in the fourth quarter to provide the 18-12 final.

Up Next: The Bruins host No. 8 Pacific on Friday night under the lights (Nov. 7) at 5:00 p.m. PT at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center to conclude a five-game home stand (as well the last home game of the year) and conclude the non-conference slate. Be sure to arrive before 4:30 p.m. PT as the Bruins will honor their 10 seniors within the program during pregame.

No. 4 California at No. 2 UCLA (Spieker Aquatics Center – MPSF Match – Game 21)

6×5 – UCLA – 7/10 – CAL – 4/12
Penalties – UCLA – 2/2 – CAL- 0/1

CAL Goals: Tomas Perrone 3, Dom Brown 2, Beso Akhvlediani 2, Alex Oprea 1, Nik Mirkovic 1, Ryder Hagan 1, Luke Bachler 1, Seth Bousfield 1
CAL Saves: Aran Pina 4

UCLA Goals: Ryder Dodd 7, Bode Brinkema 3, Frederico Jucá Carsalade 2, Ben Larsen 2, Gray Carson 2, Noah Rowe 1, Chase Dodd 1
UCLA Saves: Nate Tauscher 7

Courtesy: Cal Athletics

LOS ANGELES – The No. 4 California men’s water polo team (14-5) fell in its final regular-season road match of the 2025 season to No. 2 UCLA (20-1), 18-12, on Sunday at the Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles.

The Golden Bears fell to the Bruins for the third time on the season after a hard-fought contest that saw nine Bears register a goal.

Tomas Perrone led the way for the Bears after posting a hat trick for the fifth time in his freshman campaign. Perrone has now recorded at least two goals in eight games this season. Beso Akhvlediani and Dominic Brown followed behind with two goals each.

How it happened:

No. 4 Cal – 12 | No. 2 UCLA – 18

• The Bears opened the game with two consecutive goals in the opening minutes.
• Dominic Brown, Seth Bousfield and Tomas Perrone scored a goal in the opening frame.
• UCLA scored three straight goals to close the first period with a 4-3 advantage.
• The Bruins scored three straight goals to begin the second period.
• Ryder Hagan and Beso Akhvlediani responded with one goal apiece.
• UCLA held an 8-5 lead at the halfway mark.
• The Bruins scored a game-high seven goals in the third period.
• Perrone added two goals in the third.
• Beso Akhvlediani and Marci Szatmary each scored a goal in the third.
• Both teams scored three goals in the fourth period.
• Nik Mirkovic, Alex Oprea and Dominic Brown found the back of the net in the fourth.
• Beso Akhvlediani had a team-high three assists.
• Dominic Brown and Chase Wilson combined for 11 earned exclusions.
• UCLA shot 64 percent (18-for-28) from the field, while Cal shot 40 percent (12-for-30).
• Cal lost all four of the sprints.

NEXT UP
Cal will conclude the regular season at home against Stanford on Nov. 15 for senior day. The Bears will honor five seniors and one graduate student before the game.