October 24, 1998
Pleasant Hill, CA - The No. 2 ranked UCLA men's water polo team (11-2, 4-0 in MPSF) defeated No. 5 California (7-8, 2-4 in MPSF), 7-6, Saturday at Diablo Valley College.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first quarter on goals scored by Cal senior Ryan Flynn and sophomore Jerry Smith before UCLA sophomore Adam Wright answered back with a score. After trading goals to make it 3-2, UCLA struck with :27 seconds left to tie the game, 3-3.
The score remained tied until the third quarter when UCLA sophomore Blake Wellen scored in the first 36 seconds of the quarter to pull the Bruins ahead, 4-3. UCLA then got goals from Wright and sophomore Sean Kern, before Cal's Spencer Dornin scored with 1:04 left in the third period to make it 6-4 going into the final quarter. With 4:48 left, junior Albert Won scored a two-pointer to tie the game, 6-6. UCLA senior Sam Grayeli then scored with 2:12 left to put the Bruins up for good, 7-6, as the Bears dropped their fourth game in a row.
Smith and Won led Cal with two points apiece while perennial All-Americans Kern and Wright led UCLA with two goals each. Senior goalie Peter Kiefer performed solidly for the Bears, notching five saves in the contest.
Cal will attempt to bring their overall record back up to .500 when they travel to Stockton, Sunday to take on Pacific in a noon game at Chris Kjeldsen Pool.
UCLA 3 0 3 1 --7
California 3 0 1 2 --6
UCLA: Kern 2, Wright 2, Grayeli, Harries, Wellen.
California: Smith 2, Won (one 2-pointer), S. Dornin, Flynn.
Saves: Kiefer 5 (Cal), Bonderson (UCLA) 11.
Records: California 7-8 (2-4 MPSF)
UCLA 11-2 (4-0 MPSF).
