LOS ANGELES – The No. 6 California men's water polo team closed out a four-game road trip with a 14-9 loss Sunday at No. 1 UCLA.

Senior Max Casabella and freshman Alex Oprea led the Golden Bears' (8-6) offense with two goals apiece. It was Casabella's 11th multi-goal effort of the season and the third for Oprea.

Oprea scored his first goal of the day on a 6-on-5 midway through the opening period and redshirt junior Bende Pardi tied the game 2-2 on a penalty late in the quarter. After a 3-0 run by the home side, Casabella scored both of his goals in the second quarter to keep Cal within three goals.

Freshman Brennan Fuchslin put in the final goal of the first half to send the Bears into halftime trailing 8-5. Cal was able to cut the lead two goals to open the second half, as junior Nik Mirkovic scored on the Bears' opening possession and center George Avakian made it 9-7 two possessions later.

The Bears didn't scratch again until midway through the fourth quarter while UCLA pulled away. Oprea and freshman Patrik Kolak both converted power plays down the stretch for Cal's final two goals.

Avakian and fellow center Jordi Gascon both finished with four earned exclusions. Goalkeeper Riley Clansen tallied nine saves defending the cage.

Following four straight on the road, the Bears will be home for six of their next seven outings, starting with a doubleheader against No. 10 Long Beach State and UC Merced on Oct. 12 starting at 1 p.m. PT.

No. 2 UCLA 14, No. 6 California 9
Cal 2 3 2 2 – 9
UCLA 3 5 5 1 – 14
Cal Goals: Casabella 2, Oprea 2, Kolak, Fuchslin, Mirkovic, Pardi, Avakian
UCLA Goals: Dodd 7, Carson 2, Carsalade, Liechty, Szécsi, Larsen, Kenney
Cal Saves: Riley Clansen 9
UCLA Saves: Garret Griggs 9, Nate Tauscher 1

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