UCLA
California
No. 1 UCLA Rallies to Beat No. 3 Cal
October 24, 2015 | Men's Water Polo
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LOS ANGELES -- The top-ranked UCLA Bruins improved to 20-0 on the year and 4-0 in the MPSF with an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over No. 3 California (16-4, 2-1) on Saturday morning at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The win marked the Bruins' 23rd-straight victory, dating back to last year, which is the third-longest winning streak in school history, one away from tying the second-longest streak of 24, established from 1968-70.
UCLA improves to 80-65-1 all-time against California, picking up its sixth-straight win over the Golden Bears and its third win over California in 2015. UCLA Head Coach Adam Wright improves to 11-6 all-time against Cal.
At halftime, UCLA honored the 20th anniversary of the 1995 NCAA Championship team, which upset No. 1 California 10-8 to win its fourth title in program history. Many of the players and staff members were on hand for the reunion and to be introduced and celebrated on deck.
UCLA was led by a trio of players with two goals, including junior Ryder Roberts and sophomores Matt Farmer and Max Irving. Junior Garrett Danner registered 11 saves in the cage for UCLA.
California jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Bruins could get on the board. Conor Neumann opened the scoring with a power play goal (7:31) and then freshman Johnny Hooper scored the first of his three on a counter attack (7:15). Luca Cupido made it 3-0 with another counter score (5:59). The Bruins finally got on the board with a power play goal from Farmer (0:54) to end the first with the Bruins trailing 3-1.
Both teams battled to a 2-2 draw in the second period. Hooper scored his second of the match on a 6-on-5 opportunity to push the lead to 4-1 (7:03). But Roberts answered quickly with his first score from the front court (6:42). Cupido scored his second, an exclusion goal, to make it 5-2 (3:59), but the Bruins got a penalty score from Roberts (3:48) after junior Gordon Marshall drew a penalty shot, ending the scoring in the second with Cal leading 5-3 at the half.
UCLA exploded out of the gates after the break, winning the third period 4-2, to enter the final stanza tied at 7-7. Odysseas Masmanidis scored his only goal of the match on a counter to extend Cal's lead to 6-3 (7:00). But Irving answered immediately for UCLA with a strike from the front court (6:49). Then sophomore Alex Roelse drew a penalty shot and was rewarded with the scoring opportunity to take the shot and converted it to pull the Bruins to within one at 6-5 (3:34). Cal got another power play goal from Hooper, his third of the match, to push the lead to 7-5 (2:48). But UCLA scored the final two goals of the period to tie it up. Farmer scored his second from set (2:19) and junior Patrick Fellner had the goal of the match, a powerful low skip shot that found the back of the net from seven meters out, sending Bruin fans into a frenzy.
The Bruins won a defensive-minded fourth quarter, 1-0, to provide the 8-7 final. Irving's second goal of the match on a 6-on-5 opportunity with 5:02 remaining proved to be the game-winning goal.
Danner played all four periods in the cage for UCLA and was at his best when his best was needed. In addition to pitching a shutout in the fourth period, he recorded five of his 11 saves in the final quarter and made eight of his stops in the second half. He also registered one steal in the match. Lazar Andric was credited with 12 saves for California.
UCLA went 2-for-8 on power plays while the Golden Bears went 3-for-7. UCLA went 2-for-2 on penalty shots while California didn't attempt one.
The Bruins return to action on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2:00 p.m. when they travel to No. 7 UC Irvine (11-6, 1-2) for a league match.
No. 3 California at No. 1 UCLA (MPSF Match)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| No. 3 California | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
6x5 - UCLA - 2/8 - CAL - 3/7
Penalties - UCLA - 2/2 - CAL - 0/0
CAL Goals: Johnny Hooper 3, Luca Cupido 2, Conor Neumann 1, Odysseas Masmanidis 1
CAL Saves: Lazar Andric 12
UCLA Goals: Ryder Roberts 2, Max Irving 2, Matt Farmer 2, Alex Roelse 1, Patrick Fellner 1
UCLA Saves: Garrett Danner 11
