No. 2 Cal Edges No. 11 Pepperdine In Berkeley

Saturday, September 27

Berkeley, CA

1:00 PM PT

California

8-5

Pepperdine

11-1

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD	Final F
California (M)	3	2	5	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14
Pepperdine	2	4	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12

No. 2 Cal Edges No. 11 Pepperdine In Berkeley

Bears earned seventh-ranked win of the season

Photo by: Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos

9/27/2025 4:04 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score

Bears Earned Seventh-Ranked Win Of The Season

By: Cal Athletics

BERKELEY – The No. 2 California men's water polo team (11-1) clinched its 11th win of the season, matching last season's win total, after defeating No. 11 Pepperdine (8-5), 14-12, in a back-and-forth contest at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

The Golden Bears were led by Albert Ponferrada after recording a season-high four goals, along with three assists and one field block. Chase Wilson, a transfer from Pepperdine, scored two goals against his former club while garnering two earned exclusions.

How it happened:

No. 2 Cal – 14 | No. 11 Pepperdine – 12

Kai Inoue scored the first goal of the contest with six minutes remaining in the first.
Cal collected five steals and three field blocks in the opening frame.
Patrik Kolak and Chase Wilson helped Cal gain a 3-2 lead through the first.
After trailing 3-5, the Waves scored three unanswered goals to take the lead at the half.
Albert Ponferrada and Alex Oprea each added a goal for the Bears in the second period.
Albert Ponferrada scored three of Cal's five goals in the third.
Beso Akhvlediani and Dominic Brown both found the back of the net in the third period.
The third period saw a total of eight scored goals.
Cal held a 10-9 advantage after 24 minutes of action.
The Bears outscored the Waves 4-3 in the fourth period.
Nik Mirkovic, Maddox Arlett, Chase Wilson and Bende Pardi provided a goal in the fourth.
Cal converted 46 percent (6-for-13) of its power play opportunities.
The Bears tallied 12 steals and 15 field blocks through 32 minutes of action.
Cal recorded 13 assists in the game.
Albert Ponferrada recorded a game-high plus/minus of +7.5.

NEXT UP
Cal will begin conference play against the reigning national champion, UCLA, next Saturday at Spieker Aquatic Complex. Coverage will be available on Overnght, starting at 1 p.m. PT.

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