No. 2 UCLA Falls to No. 1 California, 7-6

SOCIAL MEDIA: MWP on Twitter | MWP on Facebook | MWP on Instagram

LOS ANGELES -- No. 2 UCLA (22-4, 2-1 MPSF WEST) dropped the third-place game of the 2022 MPSF Men's Water Polo Championship to No. 1 California (21-2, 3-0 MPSF WEST), 7-6 on Sunday afternoon at USC's Uytengsu Aquatics Center. UCLA fell to 90-76-1 all-time in the series history against the Golden Bears.

Just three Bruins scored in the game, paced by a hat trick from redshirt sophomore Gianpiero Di Martire. Junior Makoto Kenney scored twice in the game and senior Tommy Gruwell added one goal. Super senior Jake Cavano saw his 13-game streak with at least one goal come to an end. 

Senior Bernardo Maurizi got the start in the cage and went the distance, making a season-high-tying 15 saves for the third time this year. He also added one steal while holding the Golden Bears to a season-low seven goals.

Albert Ponferrada led the Golden Bears with three goals. Adrian Weinberg played the entire game in the cage for California and was credited with eight saves while holding UCLA to six goals.

The Bruins led 2-1 at the end of the first quarter with Di Martire scoring twice (1:42 and 0:13). The two teams were tied at halftime, 3-3, with junior Makoto Kenney scoring the lone goal for the Bruins (6:18) in the second quarter.

The Golden Bears scored five unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead at the 3:31 mark of the third period.

UCLA finally snapped the run and the over 10-minute scoring drought when Kenney scored with 0:39 left in the third to cut the deficit to 6-4. Di Martie completed his hat trick to open the scoring in the fourth (7:28) on a power play with Jack Larsen getting the assist to pull UCLA to within one. Then Gruwell scored on a one-timer off a pass from Di Martire with 1:21 left in the game to level things at 6-6. Albert Ponferrada scored the eventual game-winning goal for Cal with 0:54 to go. Cavano's final shot attempt for the Bruins at the buzzer was field blocked.

UP NEXT
The Bruins now wait for the NCAA selections, which will be announced tonight via press release at 9:00 p.m. PT.

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 1 California (MPSF Championship - Third Place Game)

6x5 - UCLA - 4/11 - CAL - 1/10
Penalties - UCLA - 0/0 - CAL - 0/0

UCLA Goals: Gianpiero Di Martire 3, Makoto Kenney 2, Tommy Gruwell 1
UCLA Saves: Bernardo Maurizi 15

CAL Goals: Albert Ponferrada 3, Jack Deely 2, Warren Loth 1, Marton Szatmary 1
CAL Saves: Adrian Weinberg 8