CORONADO – Sticking around in Southern California for an additional day following the season-opening Triton Invitational, the No. 1 California men's water polo team continued its perfect start by defeating No. 20 Navy 18-6.

The Golden Bears (5-0) took down their third top-20 opponent in as many days behind another balanced offensive attack which saw five players score multiple goals for the fourth time already. Roberto Valera, Nikolaos Papanikolaou and Albert Ponferrada all tied for game-high honors with three goals apiece, with Valera notching his team-leading third hat trick.

Papanikolaou filled up the stat sheet in every other way as well. Last year's nationwide leader in earned exclusions drew six – two of which were penalties. Ponferrada followed up Sunday's career-high four-goal effort against No. 7 UC Santa Barbara with his third career three-goal game. He became the fourth Bear to reach 10 goals on the season.

Goalkeeper Adrian Weinberg registered nine saves in three-and-a-half quarters of work, while Kai Seed entered in the second half to make four stops. Both goalies added an assist.

Jake Howerton and George Avakian also continued strong starts to the year scoring two goals each. Avakian was second only to Papanikolaou with four earned exclusions. He is on the best goal-scoring stretch of his career with eight goals over his last four games.

The Bears will get their most difficult test of the early season Saturday at No. 2 USC in a rematch of last year's national championship game. The contest will start at 1 p.m. PT.

No. 1 California 18, No. 20 Navy 6
Cal 4 6 7 1 – 18
Navy 2 1 0 3 – 6
Cal Goals: Roberto Valera 3, Nikolaos Papanikolaou 3, Albert Ponferrada 3, Jake Howerton 2, George Avakian 2, Ryder Hagan, Max Casabella, Nik Mirkovic, Sam Untrecht, Wyatt Mundelius
Cal Saves: Adrian Weinberg 9, Kai Seed 4

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