SAN DIEGO, Calif. - A thrilling win in double-overtime got the opening day of competition started for the Cal men's water polo team and the No. 3-ranked Bears only got better from there as wins over No. 5 Pacific and Cal Baptist made for a two-win day at the Triton Invitational hosted by UC San Diego.

Cal (2-0) returns to action on Sunday at 9:50 a.m. against UC Santa Barbara. The Bears conclude tournament action with a 1:20 p.m. start against the host Tritons at Canyonview Aquatic Center.

Cal 13, Pacific 11 (2 OT)

Faced with a quality conference opponent right out of the gates, the Bears knew Saturday's season opener certainly wasn't going to be easy.

That prediction proved particularly spot on as the Bears and Tigers battled back and forth through four periods and a scoreless overtime frame before goals by Farrel South and Johnny Hooper made the difference to give Cal a hard-fought win at Canyonview Aquatic Center.

Cal entered the fourth period facing a one-goal deficit but a goal from J.D. Ratchford just 55 seconds in evened the score at 9. That's when the Bears' seniors stepped up, with goals from Thomas Agramonte and Colin Mulcahy giving Cal an 11-10 advantage. Pacific's Ben Stevenson tied it again with 2:01 left and that capped the scoring in regulation, sending the match to extra time.

Neither team could crack the scoreboard through one overtime period but, once the Bears forged ahead, they didn't stop there. South scored first, putting Cal ahead 12-11 with 2:31 to play. Just over a minute later, Hooper made his first collegiate goal a memorable one, beating Pacific goalkeeper Brady Moore to put Cal ahead 13-11. That's where the score stayed to the final buzzer, and the Bears celebrated a win in match No. 1.

South led Cal in scoring with three goals. Mulcahy, Ratchford and junior Chandler Jarrels each added two. And, Hooper wasn't the only Bear to hit the scoresheet for the first time as freshman Odysseas Masmanidis, who drew the start in his first collegiate match, also scored. Stevenson led Pacific with three goals. Lazar Andric played a big part in the win from his spot at goalkeeper, making 11 saves for the Bears.

Cal 26, Cal Baptist 8

After a close contest to begin the day, Cal put its second game out of reach early as the Bears took a 7-0 lead after one period and cruised from there to beat the Lancers.

Mulcahy led the way on the scoresheet, scoring six times to lead the Bears. Hooper and Masmanidis added to what was already a memorable day with Masmanidis scoring five goals and Hooper adding four in the win.

Nicholas Carniglia got Cal going with the game's first goal and Hooper followed shortly thereafter to make it 2-0. Two of the heroes from game No. 1 conected for Cal's next goal when South scored off an assist from Ratchford and subsequent goals from Masmanidis, Pedro Stellet and two from Mulcahy finished off a great opening period for the Bears.