BERKELEY - Despite four goals from junior Colin Mulcahy and 12 saves from senior goalie Jon Sibley, the No. 5-ranked Cal men's water polo team fell to No. 2 Stanford, 11-9, Saturday in the Big Splash at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

The loss dropped the Golden Bears to 20-5 overall and 4-3 in the MPSF. The Cardinal, led by five goals from junior Bret Bonanni, improved to 20-3 and 6-1 in league play.

The winner of the Big Splash receives the Steve Heaston Trophy, named after the former Cal men's water polo coach (1989-98) who led the Bears to three straight NCAA titles from 1990-92 and passed away from brain cancer in 1999.

Other scorers for Kirk Everist's Cal squad were sophomore Farrel South with two goals, and  seniors Blake Kelly and Aleksa Saponjic, and freshman standout Luca Cupido with single goals.

It was the final home match for five Cal seniors - Sibley, Kelly, Saponjic, Luka Ivanovic and Matt Russell.

Cal had owned a 7-6 advantage entering the fourth period, but the Cardinal outscored the Bears, 4-1, in the final period on a pair of goals from both Bonanni and Alex Bowen to capture to two goal victory. Cal had shown balanced scoring in the first quarter to take a 4-3 lead on goals from South, Cupido, Mulcahy and Saponjic.

The Bears continue their tough slate next Saturday when they travel to Los Angeles to play six-time defending national champion USC. Earlier this season, Cal upended the Trojans, 11-10, Sept. 21 at the Kap7 NorCal Classic in Stockton. USC later came back to defeat the Bears, 10-9, Oct. 12 at the SoCal Tournament.

Stanford 3 3 1 4 -- 11

California 4 2 2 1 -- 9

Stanford: Bret Bonanni 5, Alex Bowen 2, Adam Abdulhamid, Connor Stapleton, Cody Smith, BJ Churnside.

Cal: Colin Mulcahy 4, Farrel South 2, Luca Cupido, Blake Kelly, Aleksa Saponjic

Saves: Jon Sibley (Cal) 12; Drew Holland (Stan) 9.

Records: Stanford is 20-3 overall, 6-1 MPSF; Cal is 20-5 overall, 4-3 MPSF