STANFORD, Calif. - Day two at the Kap7 NorCal Invitational gave the No. 3-ranked Cal men's water polo team a chance to test itself against the two teams ranked above it nationally and, though the Bears didn't come away with a victory, they certainly showed how close the race is for the mantle of top team in the land.

Cal (7-2), which was seeded No. 4 at the tournament, dropped an 8-6 decision to No. 1 UCLA in Sunday morning's semifinal and fell 12-9 in the tournament's third-place game to No. 2 USC. The Bears went 2-2 at the tournament, earning wins over San Jose State and UC Santa Barbara, and now move on to next weekend's Aggie Roundup hosted by UC Davis.

UCLA 8, Cal 6

A second-half rally brought the Bears even with their rivals from Southern California but UCLA managed to pull back in front with two goals late in the third period and the Bruins held on for the win in a highly competitive semifinal match.

Just how closely matched the two teams showed early as the No. 1-ranked Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Colin Mulcahy made sure that momentum was short-lived though, scoring a goal of his own to make it 2-1. That's how the score stood after a period, with Lazar Andric playing a big part for Cal with four saves to keep things close.

UCLA tacked on two more goals to lead 4-1 at halftime but the Bears had adjustments ready when play resumed. A quick goal by Odysseas Masmanidis made it 4-2, UCLA countered with a goal of its own but Masmanidis drew a penalty shot that Luca Cupido converted to make it 5-3 Bruins. Conor Neumann got Cal within one, converting off an assist by Johnny Hooper, and Hooper tied the score with a power play goal off an assist by Andric.

The Bruins closed the third period with a flurry to re-take the lead. Patrick Fellner scored one of his match-high three goals to put UCLA back in front and Ryder Roberts scored on the power play to make it 7-5. Masmanidis brought the Bears within one at 7-6 with 5:54 remaining but Daniel McClintick finished the scoring just 26 seconds later to give UCLA an insurance goal and the final margin of victory.

Five different Bears scored, led by Masmanidis with two. Andric went the distance in goal and stopped 12 shots.

USC 12, Cal 9

A one-goal game after three periods turned in the Trojans' favor at the beginning of the fourth period as USC scored the first three goals of the final frame and then held on as Cal couldn't quite complete the comeback in the waning minutes of the match.

Both teams came out with an offensive mindset in the first period and that showed on the scoresheet as they battled to a 4-4 tie after one. The scoring quieted down in the second and USC held a slim 6-5 lead at the midway point but the scoring picked back up in the third with each team finding the net twice. In Cal's case, Thomas Agramonte and J.D. Ratchford did their part to keep the Bears close, each scoring once to leave Cal down 8-7 entering the final period.

USC took control with a flurry of goals early in the period. James Walters and brothers Blake and Lachlan Edwards each scored to put the Trojans ahead 11-7 and, though the Bears scored two of the game's final three goals, that burst gave USC enough of a cushion to pull out the win.

Mulcahy scored three goals, all in the first period, to lead Cal offensively. Hooper, Chandler Jarrels, Nicholas Carniglia and Farrel South also scored for the Bears while Andric made 14 saves in goal.