BERKELEY – The No. 8 Cal women's water polo team held No. 2 UCLA to its lowest offensive output of the season, but the Bears came up just short in a 4-3 setback to the Bruins in MPSF play on Friday evening at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

The Bruins, the defending NCAA runner-ups, entered the game ranked third in the MPSF in scoring at 11.50 goals per game. But UCLA was held scoreless in the first quarter and the game was tied 1-1 at halftime.

The Bruins came out and scored on their first two possessions of the second half to take a 3-1 lead, but the Bears (18-5, 1-1 MPSF) cut it to 3-2 on Carla Carrega's second goal of the game and her team-leading 48^th goal of the season with 5:47 left in the third period. Carrega entered the night ranked third in the MPSF in scoring at 2.09 goals per game.

After UCLA answered to make it 4-2, senior Brooke Vowell converted with 2:35 remaining in the third to trim it to 4-3. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. Cal had a handful of good opportunities to even the game down the stretch but couldn't come up with the equalizer.

Freshman goalie Madison Tagg had nine saves for the Bears, anchoring a spectacular defensive effort that featured several steals and field blocks.

Carrega opened the scoring with a 6-on-5 goal with 4:05 left in the first period. Cal held a 1-0 lead until UCLA tied it with 3:18 to go in the first half.

The Bears return to Spieker Aquatics Complex on Sunday with a nonconference game against No. 21 Long Beach State. The match begins at 2 p.m. and will air on the Pac-12 Network.

No. 2 UCLA 4, No. 8 Cal 3

UCLA 0 1 3 0 – 4

Cal 1 0 2 0 – 3

UCLA Goals: Lizette Rozeboom, India Forster, Kelsey O'Brien, Charlotte Pratt

Cal Goals: Carla Carrega 2, Brooke Vowell.

UCLA Saves: Alex Musselman 6.

Cal Saves: Madison Tagg 9.