LOS ANGELES – Playing without four key players because of injuries  – including three starters – the No. 4 Cal women's water polo team kept it close for one half before ultimately falling 10-4 at No. 3 UCLA on Saturday at Spieker Aquatic Center.

Junior All-American Anna Illes scored a pair of goals for the Bears (13-4, 1-1 MPSF) while senior Stephanie Mutafyan and freshman Emma Wright each found the cage once. Senior goalie Madeline Trabucco made six saves for Cal.

The Bears played suffocating defense in the first half, anchored by Trabucco. Cal's goalie made saves on each of UCLA's first three possessions of the game. The entire first quarter was almost scoreless until the Bruins' Maddie Musselman scored with 1:32 remaining in the period.

UCLA's Kodi Hill made it 2-0 with a goal on the first possession of the second quarter, but Wright answered with a goal on the 6-on-5 to make it 2-1. After a quick strike by Rachel Whitelegge pushed the Bruins' lead back to 3-1, Illes scored the first of her goals to make it 3-2 at halftime.

The Bears were still within 4-3 after Mutafyan's goal with 3:28 left in the third period, but UCLA then scored four straight goals to take command early in the fourth quarter.

All four of Cal's goals came on the 6-on-5.

The Bears will be back home next Saturday to take on No. 6 Arizona State at 1 p.m. at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
 
No. 3 UCLA 10, No. 4 Cal 4
Cal 0 2 1 1 – 4
UCLA 1 2 3 4 – 10
Cal Goals: Anna Illes 2, Stephanie Mutafyan, Emma Wright.
UCLA Goals: Rachel Fattal 4, Kodi Hill 2, Mackenzie Barr, Alys Williams, Maddie Musselman, Rachel Whitelegge.
Cal Saves: Madeline Trabucco 6.
UCLA Saves: Carlee Kapana 11.