The No. 2 California men's water polo team will begin conference play at home with a pair of top-three ranked matchups, starting with No. 1 UCLA on Saturday, followed by No. 3 USC on Sunday at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Coverage for both games will be available on Overnght.
 
The Golden Bears will take on the Bruins and the Trojans for the second time this season. In the previous meetings at the Overnght MPSF Invitational, Cal defeated USC 13-11 before being bested by UCLA in the championship game 11-9.
 
UP NEXT
SATURDAY, OCT. 4
No. 2 Cal vs. No. 1 UCLA | 1 PM PT | Livestream: Overnght | Live Stats: 6-8sports.com
 
SUNDAY, OCT. 5
No. 2 Cal vs. No. 3 USC | 1 PM PT | Livestream: Overnght | Live Stats: 6-8sports.com
 
 
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Through four weeks, goalkeeper Aran Pina leads the MPSF in saves (110), is tied for third in steals (21) and ranks sixth in save percentage (0.52) while attacker Albert Ponferrada leads the conference in field blocks (10). Attacker Beso Akhvlediani sits third in goals (32) and is tied for fifth in points (50). Center Chase Wilson ranks seventh in the conference in earned exclusions (24) while utility player Patrik Kolak sits tied for seventh in sprint wins (6).
 
STELLAR NEWCOMERS
A Bear has been crowned the MPSF Newcomer of the Week twice this season. On Sept. 22, freshman attacker Kai Inoue collected his first career honor after being a key piece to Cal's title game run at the Overnght MPSF Invitational. In four games, Inoue racked up 10 goals, five assists and three earned exclusions while recording a career-high five-goal game against UC Santa Barbara.
 
A week prior, on Sept. 15, freshman goalkeeper Aran Pina brought home his first honor after a spectacular weekend protecting the net and helping Cal secure three top-15 wins against then-No. 6 San Jose State, then-No. 9 Pacific and then-No. 11 UC Davis. Pina collected a total of 33 saves and two steals through three games, while posting a career-high 12 saves in the matchup against the Aggies.
 
GOLDEN SUCCESS
The Bears have won 17 NCAA championships, including three out of the last four, making Cal the winningest program in men's water polo history. During Kirk Everist's tenure as a head coach, he has been named the ACWPC National Coach of the Year five times (2006, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023), and the Bears have won six national championships (2006, 2007, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023) amid his 24 seasons at the helm. Last season, Cal earned four All-MPSF honors, led by first-team selection Max Casabella. George Avakian and Albert Ponferrada received second-team honors, while Jake Howerton was named an honorable mention.
 
FAMILIAR FACES
Cal returns 13 student-athletes from a season ago, including William Kelly, Bende Pardi and Nik Mirkovic, who each surpassed 20 goals during the 2024 season. Goalkeeper Riley Clansen returns after making an appearance in 14 games last season, registering 423 minutes and 87 saves. Senior Albert Ponferrada returns after totaling the second-most assists (48) in the MPSF during 2024. 
 
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Bears welcomed 11 newcomers, including seven freshmen: Beso Akvlediani (Attacker), Kai Inoue (Attacker), Tomas Perrone (Attacker), Aran Pina (Goalkeeper), Gigo Sarimsakci (Center), Patrick Stice (Utility) and Milan Sumich (Defender). The 2025 roster will also feature three transfers: Luke Bachler (Attacker), Dominic Brown (Center) and Chase Wilson (Center), and one graduate student: Loui Schuler (Utility).
 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on X/ Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).