LOS ANGELES – A strong third period and a four-goal day from Johnny Hooper provided highlights for the No. 3-ranked Cal men's water polo team but No. 1 USC built an early lead it would never relinquish as the Bears fell 13-7 at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.

Cal (16-4, 1-1 MPSF) found itself chasing early as USC (26-1, 1-1) netted the first three goals to take the first advantage. Hooper gave the Bears their first goal, earning and then converting a penalty shot, but the Trojans added another goal before the end of the period and Cal trailed 4-1 heading to the second.

Jordan Hoover provided the next two Cal goals, scoring on a pair of tap-ins from two meters to leave the Bears down 7-3 at halftime. USC scored the first two goals of the third period to take a 9-3 lead but Cal made its bid to get back in the game as a goal by Odysseas Masmanidis and two more from Hooper made the score 9-6 heading to the fourth.

USC re-took control to start the final eight minutes, scoring the first three goals of the period to lead 12-6. Hooper scored his fourth goal of the day with 5:55 left but that would be the last time Cal would find the net on the day.

Bernardo Carelli got the start in the cage and made six saves for the Bears. Cal returns to Spieker Aquatics Complex to wrap up the 2018 regular season as the Bears welcome Stanford on Saturday for the annual Big Splash. Game time is set for noon and the match will be broadcast live by Pac-12 Networks. Action shifts right back to USC the following week as the MPSF Championships take place from Nov. 16-18.