Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos
MPOLO11/3/2024 5:25 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Bears Fall To USC In Overtime
Cal Erased 3-Goal Deficit In 4th Quarter
BERKELEY – The No. 7 California men's water polo team came back late to force overtime Sunday in its 2024 home finale against No. 2 USC, but the Golden Bears couldn't find the back of the net in the extra periods, falling 17-15.
Bende Pardi's goal with 10 seconds remaining in regulation sent the game into overtime, but it would be Cal's (11-10, 1-4) final goal of the day as the Trojans (17-4, 2-3) scored the only two goals of the extra period.
Senior Jake Howerton finished his prolific final weekend of games at Spieker Aquatics Complex with three more goals and junior Nik Mirkovic notched his third hat trick of the year, scoring twice on penalties. Mirkovic's second penalty conversion came at the 6:07 mark of the fourth and Howerton capped a 3-0 Bear run with a pair of power play goals to bring his team level at 13-13.
After a USC answer, center Jordi Gascon – who was brilliant down the stretch – put away a slick backhanded shot with 3:05 to go to tie it 14-14. Gascon also drew two of the fourth-quarter exclusions that resulted in Cal goals and assisted one of them.
Pardi's equalizer in the final moments followed a clutch steal by the Bears' defense in the middle of the pool. Coming out of a timeout, Cal patiently worked it around until senior Max Casabella faked a shot and slid it to Pardi for a slick strike just inside the left post.
The Bears' 15 goals were the most given up by USC all season. Casabella scored twice with two assists. Redshirt sophomore Ryder Hagan had an impactful first half, firing in two goals for his second multi-goal effort of the year. Center George Avakian led all players with three earned exclusions.
On the defensive end, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Max LaGrange set a new career high with 12 saves.
Cal's final game of the regular season will be at No. 2 Stanford on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. PT.
No. 2 USC 17, No. 7 California 15
Cal 5 4 1 5 0 0 – 15
USC 4 5 3 3 1 1 – 17
Cal Goals: Howerton 3, Mirkovic 3, Casabella 2, Hagan 2, Gascon, Ponferrada, Szatmary, Pardi, Kelly
USC Goals: Duarte 4, Miller 4, Kranz 3, Brankovic 2, Brnetic, McGuire, Grgurevic, Vort
Cal Saves: Max LaGrange 12
USC Saves: Bernardo Herzer 11
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
