Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos
MPOLO9/22/2024 2:54 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Bears Fall In MPSF Invitational Finale
No. 6 Cal Ends Tournament In 4th Place
BERKELEY – The No. 6 California men's water polo team closed out the Overnght MPSF Invitational on Sunday, falling to No. 2 Stanford 15-10 in the third-place game.
Junior William Kelly led the Golden Bears (7-3) with three goals, while senior Max Casabella added two. Goalkeepers Kai Seed and Riley Clansen finished with four and three saves, respectively.
In a back-and-forth start to the game, the Bears tied it three times in the opening period on goals from the outside by Casabella, Nik Mirkovic and Albert Ponferrada. Trailing 5-3 at the start of the second, Cal pulled back within one after Bende Pardi earned a penalty and Casabella promptly powered it into the left side of the net.
Aside from a highlight goal in late in the first half – one which saw Ponferrada put a long pass on the money to a cutting Kelly – the Bears fell behind and couldn't generate enough on either end to keep pace with the Cardinal (9-1). Stanford grew its lead to 13-5 by the end of the third quarter.
Cal got its offense back on track in the final frame, scoring five goals in just over a six-minute span. Kelly found the back of the net twice to notch his first hat trick of the season.
The Bears will return to the road for four games over the next two weekends, starting with a night game at Pomona-Pitzer on Thursday, Sept. 26.
No. 2 Stanford 15, No. 6 California 10
Cal 3 2 0 5 – 10
Stan 5 5 3 2 – 15
Cal Goals: Kelly 3, Casabella 2, Arlett, Kolak, Ponferrada, Mirkovic, Loth
Stan Goals: Pittman 4, C. McFarland. D. McFarland, Indart, Gheorghe, Parrish, Balogh, West, Jensen, Painter, Schneider, Forer
Cal Saves: Kai Seed 4, Riley Clansen 3
Stan Saves: West Temkin 7
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For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
