Bears Advance To Championship Game At MPSF Invitational

Saturday, September 20

Los Angeles, CA

12:30 PM PT

California

9-0

LMU

4-3

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	Final F
LMU	0	1	5	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9
California (M)	4	4	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	Final F
California (M)	2	6	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13
USC (M)	2	2	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11

Cal defeated No. 11 LMU, No. 2 USC

Photo by: Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos

Bears Advance To Championship Game At MPSF Invitational

9/20/2025 9:16 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Cal Defeated No. 11 LMU, No. 2 USC

By: Cal Athletics

LOS ANGELES – The No. 3 California men's water polo team (10-0) continued its win streak after picking up two ranked victories on Saturday to advance to the championship game of the Overnight MPSF Invitational.

The Golden Bears showcased offensive brilliance and made big-time defensive stops to defeat both No. 13 LMU and No. 2 USC. Cal has now reeled off 10 consecutive wins to start the season, its best start since the 2023 campaign when the Bears started the season on a 12-game win streak en route to claiming their third consecutive NCAA title.

On the day, the Bears recorded a total of 28 goals, 28 blocks and saves, 21 assists, 21 steals and 20 earned exclusions.

How it happened:

Game 1: No. 3 Cal – 15 | No. 13 LMU – 9

Kai Inoue drains the first two goals to give the Bears an early lead.
Cal held LMU scoreless in the first period.
LMU scored the first goal of the game at the 2:40 mark in the second period.
Beso Akhvlediani posted a hat trick in the first half.
Aran Pina collected eight saves in the first half.
Cal recorded seven steals in the first two periods.
LMU scored three straight goals to start the third, cutting its deficit to four (4-8).
Kai Inoue broke Cal's scoreless streak with his third goal at the 3:29 mark in the third.
The Lions found the back of the net five times in the third period.
Cal earned a total of 10 exclusions in the game, led by Dominic Brown with four.
Eight Bears registered a goal.
Kai Inoue posted a game-high four goals.
Dominic Brown recorded his fourth multi-goal game of the season.
Beso Akhvlediani notched his fifth game of the season with at least three goals.
Cal forced 20 turnovers in the contest.
Aran Pina tallied a career-high 13 saves.

Game 1: No. 3 Cal – 13 | No. 2 USC – 11

Nik Mirkovic claimed the first goal of the contest early in the first.
Aran Pina secured four saves, including one penalty shot save, and two steals in the first period.
Bende Pardi evened the score after a late goal in the opening period.
Beso Akhvlediani collected a hat trick in the second to give the Bears momentum.
Cal scored six times in the second frame from four different goal scorers.
The Bears scored on three power plays in the first half.
USC scored three consecutive goals to start the third.
Nik Mirkovic scored two of his four goals in the third period.
The Trojans climbed to within one score twice in the fourth.
Kai Inoue scored his first goal of the game to give Cal a two-goal lead late in the fourth.
Cal went 13-for-28 on shot attempts in the game.
The Bears forced the Trojans to 11 turnovers.
Aran Pina collected 12 saves.
Beso Akhvlediani and Nik Mirkovic tallied four goals apiece.

NEXT UP
Cal will play in the championship game of the Overnght MPSF Invitational against the defending NCAA champions and top-ranked team in the country, UCLA, on Sunday. Coverage will be available on Overnight beginning at 2:30 p.m.

STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).