Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos
MPOLO11/2/2024 4:39 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Bears Fall In Shootout With No. 1 UCLA
Howerton Scores 5 Times In Fast-Paced 1st Half
BERKELEY – Behind a special first half from senior Jake Howerton, the No. 7 California men's water polo team put up the second-most goals No. 1 UCLA has conceded this season, but the Golden Bears couldn't keep pace down the stretch in a 20-14 defeat Saturday at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
Howerton – one of five Bears honored prior to the game in the first of two Senior Day celebrations for Cal's 11-man senior class of 2024 – scored all of his team-leading five goals in a frantic opening-half shootout that had seven ties and four lead changes. The five goals set a new personal-best for Howerton in a Cal uniform.
Eight of the Bears' (11-9, 1-3) first 10 goals were scored by seniors who were celebrated during the pregame ceremony. The others came from Max Casabella on a penalty in the opening minute and on two interior goals from center Jordi Gascon. Cal became the first team to reach double figures before halftime against UCLA (19-1, 1-3), heading into the break trailing 11-10 thanks to a perfect 4-for-4 mark on power plays.
Third-quarter goals from Casabella, William Kelly and Bende Pardi kept the Bears within striking distance trailing 14-13 midway through the period. However, UCLA became the first team to extend past a two-goal advantage, capping off two separate 3-0 runs in the third to take a 16-13 lead into the fourth.
Cal's offense finally slowed down in the final frame, while the Bruins pulled away and pushed their lead to six goals. Senior center George Avakian put away the Bears' final goal of the day on another power play in the final minutes after recording his game-leading fourth earned exclusion.
Casabella finished with two goals, two assists and a pair of field blocks. Junior Albert Ponferrada converted his only shot attempt and tallied a game-high six assists.
The Bears will be back in action Sunday at 1 p.m. PT for their home finale against No. 2 USC. The rest of Cal's senior class will be honored prior to the game.
No. 1 UCLA 20, No. 7 California 14
Cal 5 5 3 1 – 14
UCLA 7 4 5 4 – 20
Cal Goals: Howerton 5, Gascon 2, Casabella 2, Ponferrada, Szatmary, Pardi, Avakian, Kelly
UCLA Goals: R. Dodd 6, Voggenthaler 2, Castillo 2, B. Liechty 2, C. Dodd 2, Tierney 2, Carsalade, E. Liechty, Szécsi, Sherlock
Cal Saves: Max LaGrange 4
UCLA Saves: Nate Tauscher 5, Garret Griggs 1
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
