California Golden Bears Athletics
California
MPSF Tournament
No. 3 Cal Men's Water Polo Loses to No. 4 UCLA, 11-7, in MPSF Third Place Match
11/30/2003 12:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 30, 2003
LONG BEACH, CA - The No. 3 ranked Cal men's water polo team finished the 2003 campaign 20-8, losing to No. 4 ranked UCLA (19-7), 11-7, Sunday in the third place match of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament at the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach. The Bears ended up 1-2 in the MPSF Tournament, defeating No. 8 Long Beach State, 11-7, on Friday, but falling to No. 1 ranked USC, 11-8, on Saturday, and then the No. 3 seeded Bruins on Sunday.
The fourth-seeded Bears, who were trying to repeat as MPSF Tournament champions, were led by senior All-American Attila Banhidy's two goals and 10 saves from senior goalie Tim Kates. Seniors Greg Panawek and Milos Ribic, and freshmen Marty Matthies, Brian Kinsel and Brian Bacharach also scored goals for the Bears.
A fourth quarter surge pushed UCLA past Cal in the third-place match. With the Bears trailing 7-6 entering the final period, the Bruins posted four fourth quarter goals and held the Bears to one score for the final 11-7 margin. Brett Ormsby scored a game-high five goals for UCLA. It was the final collegiate match for nine Cal seniors - Banhidy, Panawek, Kates, Will Quist, Sean Vienna, Beau Schuster, Jason Malinsky, Justin Fassnacht and Jeff Leeper - who helped lead the Bears to last year's MPSF crown and a runner-up finish at the 2002 NCAA Championship.
Game 11 - Third Place 1-2-3-4=F California (19-7)1-2-3-1=7 UCLA (19-7)2-2-3-4=11CAL - Banhidy (2), Matthies, Panawek, Kinsel, Bacharach, Ribic UCLA - Ormsby (5), Hewko (2), Blanchette, Greiner, Belden, Peck Goalkeepers - CAL - Kates (11 GA A, 10 saves), UCLA - Axelrad (7 GA A, 6 saves)
