TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 4 Cal women's water polo team scored two goals during the final 2:15 Sunday but couldn't tally the equalizer and fell to No. 2 UCLA 9-8 in the championship game of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament.

The Bears (19-7), coming off their first victory over Stanford in 15 years in Saturday's semifinals, finished in second place in the conference tournament – their best finish since they won the MPSF Tournament in 2011.

Cal will now await to hear what should be a high seeding at the NCAA Championships, which take place May 8-10 at Stanford. The Bears should qualify for the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in six years.

Sophomore Roser Tarrago scored four goals to lead the Bears while sophomore Emily Loughlin added two scores for the second straight game. Sophomore goalie Madeline Trabucco registered nine saves.

Tarrago scored her first goal on an assist by sophomore Anna Illes to give Cal a 1-0 lead. The teams exchanged goals to be tied 2-2 but the Bruins then notched two goals in a row to lead 4-2 with 2:24 left before halftime. Tarrago's second goal trimmed the deficit to 4-3 at the half.

UCLA scored two goals in less than a minute to extend to a 9-6 advantage with 4:08 to play. But  sophomore Dora Antal scored with 2:15 left and Loughlin added her second at the 1:11 mark to cut the Bruins' lead to one.

Loughlin recorded a steal to set up Cal's final possession with a chance to tie, but Tarrago's shot was saved by UCLA goalie Sami Hill and the Bruins preserved the win.

No. 2 UCLA 9, No. 4 Cal 8

Cal 1 2 1 4 - 8

UCLA 1 3 2 3 – 9

Cal Goals: Roser Tarrago 4, Emily Loughlin 2, Kelly McKee, Dora Antal.

UCLA Goals: Alys Williams 2, India Forster 2, Mackenzie Barr 2, Emily Donohoe, Kodi Hill.

Cal Saves: Madeline Trabucco 9.

UCLA Saves: Sami Hill 9.