STANFORD – The No. 4 California men's water polo team went toe-to-toe with top-ranked UCLA on Saturday but ultimately fell 9-8 in the semifinals of the 2025 MPSF Championships at Avery Aquatic Center.

Freshman Besa Akhvlediani and senior Bende Pardi each registered hat tricks and Tomas Perrone had two goals and two assists for the Golden Bears (15-7), who will play No. 3 Stanford in Sunday's Third Place Game at 11:30 a.m. PT.

Cal got off to a roaring start, scoring the game's first three goals before the Bruins finally got on the board at the 6:06 mark of the second quarter. That began a 4-0 UCLA run that was halted by Akhvlediani's power play goal with 1:49 to go before the half. The game was tied 4-4 at the intermission.

The teams exchanged goals throughout the third period – including a pair of penalty shots by Pardi - and the Bruins took a 9-8 lead into the fourth quarter, The Bears didn't score again until just over a minute remained in regulation, and UCLA held on for the victory.

Cal goalie Aran Pina made four saves in the cage.
 

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