MPOLO9/24/2023 3:55 PM | By: Cal Athletics
No. 1 Bears' Win Streak Snapped
Papanikolaou Now No. 3 On Cal Career Goals List
LOS ANGELES – The No. 1 California men's water polo team was defeated by No. 2 UCLA 12-10 in the MPSF Invitational first-place game on Sunday, falling for the first time in over 10 months.
Entering the day on a 15-game win streak, the Golden Bears (12-1) fought back to erase a four-goal deficit in the third quarter, tying it 9-9 on a gorgeous backhand goal by senior Nikolaos Papanikolaou. That was the two-time Cutino Award winner's 235th career goal, moving him into a tie with Ivan Rackov for No. 3 all time at Cal.
The Bruins (13-0) responded with goals on their final two possessions of the third. The Bears got a late power play goal from Marci Szatmary, but weren't able to close the gap in the final frame.
Max Casabella led Cal with four goals, getting hot in the third period by scoring three times in the span of 86 seconds. Goalkeeper Adrian Weinberg finished with eight saves, two steals and an assist.
After Cal's defense got a stop on a Bruins 7-on-6 opportunity, Weinberg ended the opening half with a remarkable buzzer-beater to send the Bears into halftime trailing 7-5. The length-of-the-pool shot was the first of Weinberg's Cal career.
The Bears will be off next weekend before returning to action for their home opener on Oct. 7 at Spieker Aquatics Complex in a rematch with UCLA.
No. 2 UCLA 12, No. 1 California 10
Cal 2 3 4 1 – 10
UCLA 3 4 4 1 – 12
Cal Goals: Max Casabella 4, Adrian Weinberg, Nkolaos Papanikolaou, Albert Ponferrada, Marci Szatmary, Nik Mirkovic, Jake Stone
UCLA Goals: Rafael Real Vergara 4, Jack Larsen 3, Hayden Nightingale 2, Marcell Szécsi, Ben Larsen, Noah Rowe
Cal Saves: Adrian Weinberg 8
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 8
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