MWP Recap: Bears Open MPSF Invitational In Winning Fashion
Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos
Inoue leads Cal to come-from-behind victory
14
UC Santa Barbara UC (10-7)
16
Winner California (M) CAL (8-0)
UC Santa Barbara UC
(10-7)
14
Final
16
California (M) CAL
(8-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT OT SD SD SD SD SD F
UC Santa Barbara UC 3 6 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
California (M) CAL 5 3 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16

Game Recap: Men's Water Polo | | Cal Athletics

Bears Open MPSF Invitational In Winning Fashion

Inoue Leads Cal To Come-From-Behind Victory

LOS ANGELES – The No. 3 California men's water polo team (8-0) opened the Overnght MPSF Invitational with a gritty win against No. 17 UC Santa Barbara (10-7), 16-14, on Friday at USC's Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
 
The Golden Bears, who trailed by two heading into the fourth period, had a masterful second-half performance from freshman Kai Inoue to clinch the come-from-behind victory. After going scoreless in the first half, Inoue caught fire in the third period after scoring three of his five goals in the frame to help keep Cal within striking distance.
 
Down 13-14 with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Inoue recorded the next two goals for the Bears, including the game-tying score with 1:39 on the clock. Cal held the Gauchos scoreless down the stretch while Beso Akhvlediani put the finishing touches on the game after scoring his second goal of the contest in the final second.

How it happened:
  • Chase Wilson scored the first two goals for Cal, including the first score of the game.
  • The Bears outscored the Gauchos 5-3 in the opening frame.
  • Aran Pina recorded four saves in the first period.
  • Nik Mirkovic tallied two of his three steals in the opening period.
  • The Gauchos responded with four straight goals, taking a 7-5 lead early in the second.
  • Cal answered with two straight goals from Maddox Arlett and Gigo Sarimsakci late in the first half.
  • UCSB edged a 9-8 advantage at the half after converting on a penalty shot in the final 20 seconds.
  • Cal had three offensive fouls in the first half.  
  • Six Bears provided a score at the halfway point.
  • Kai Inoue posted a hat trick in the third period, responsible for all of Cal's goals in the frame.
  • The Gauchos scored three times to remain ahead after three periods of action, 12-11.
  • UCSB tallied four steals and three saves in the third.
  • The Bears outscored the Gauchos 5-2 in the fourth period.
  • Aran Pina added four more saves in the fourth.
  • Maddox Arlett totaled three field blocks in the contest.
  • Beso Akhvlediani secured a game-high +8.7 plus/minus.
  • Eight Bears registered a goal in the game.
  • Maddox Arlett posted his first hat trick of the season.
  • Kai Inoue was responsible for five of the Bears' final eight goals.
  • Cal shot at a 51.1 (16-for-31) clip against UCSB.
  • The Bears tallied 16 blocks/saves compared to eight from the Gauchos.
NEXT UP
Cal will remain in Los Angeles for the second day of the Overnght MPSF Invitational to face off against No. 11 Loyola Marymount on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT.
 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
 
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