BERKELEY – The No. 2 California men's water polo team opened the 2023 MPSF Championships with a 29-6 win over Penn State Behrend on Friday at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

The Golden Bears (20-4) scored 11 goals in the opening period, led by two goals each from George Avakian and Jake Howerton. Avakian went on to lead all players with five goals.

Cal also got four-goal outings from Max Casabella and Marci Szatmary. Nikolaos Papanikolaou added a hat trick. In total, 13 Bears found the back of the net.

Papanikolaou is now three goals away from tying Johnny Hooper (245, 2015-18) for No. 2 all time in career goals at Cal. Goalkeeper Will Kiekchafer played the entire match, registering a new season high of seven saves.

The Bears will now face No. 4 Stanford in the MPSF Semifinals Saturday at 2:45 p.m. This will be the fourth matchup between the two sides this season. Cal owns a 2-1 series record in 2023, having defeated the Cardinal 12-8 in last Saturday's regular-season finale in Berkeley.

No. 2 California 18, Penn State Behrend 6
Cal 11 7 5 6 – 29
PSB 1 3 0 2 – 6
Cal Goals: George Avakian 5, Max Casabella 4, Marci Szatmary 4, Nikolaos Papanikolaou 3, Albert Ponferrada 2, Jake Howerton 2, Jordi Gascon 2, William Kelly 2, Roberto Valera, Garrett Dunn, Nik Mirkovic, Jake Stone, Ryder Hagan
PSB Goals: Jack Holl 2, Elijah Anderson 2, Ryan Carpico, Ryan Kenney
Cal Saves: Will Kieckhafer 7
PSB Saves: Leyton Vrono 5, Ethan Friedman 2

STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).