LOS ANGELES, Calif.  – After coming within a goal of tying the score late in the third period, the No. 2-ranked Cal men's water polo team couldn't quite come all the way back as No. 3 USC scored four of the final five goals and the Bears dropped a 10-6 decision at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.

Down by three with just under six minutes left in the third period, Cal (15-3, 0-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) launched its bid for a comeback. A backhand goal from Pedro Stellet got the Bears rolling, and an exclusion on USC goalkeeper McQuin Baron was followed quickly with a penalty awarded to Cal. Johnny Hooper took the shot against USC's Nick Bell and converted to make it 6-5 Trojans with four minutes to play.

A power play stop by the Bears on USC's next possession kept the momentum rolling but Mateo Morelli eventually extended USC's lead with his third goal of the night. Another USC goal pushed  the deficit back to three but freshman Safak Simsek kept Cal in contact by scoring with eight seconds left in the period.

That was as close as Cal got as offense was in short supply on both ends of the pool. Morelli and Lachlan Edwards added goals for USC (18-1, 2-0) and the Bears didn't have an answer as they finished the match 0 for 6 on the power play.

Hooper and Conor Neumann each scored twice to lead Cal, which beat USC earlier in the season in Berkeley, offensively. Goalkeeper Lazar Andric made eight saves and grabbed three steals to lead Cal defensively. The Bears will return to Southern California next weekend for non-conference matches against UC Irvine and Pepperdine. MPSF play resumes on Nov. 12 when the Bears host Stanford for the annual Big Splash. A start time for that match has not yet been announced.