UCLA WATER POLO UCLA WATER POLO
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Top-ranked UCLA (19-1, 3-1 MPSF West) had a tremendous offensive outburst to earn a huge 20-14 MPSF road win on Saturday afternoon at No. 7 California (11-9, 1-3 MPSF West) at Spieker Aquatics Complex. UCLA improved to 96-77-1 with their third straight win in games at California and the third lopsided win over the Golden Bears this season. Additionally, the 20 goals scored by the Bruins were the most ever scored against the Golden Bears in the history of the series (174 games). The previous high was 16 scored in a 17-16 overtime loss at California on Jan. 3, 2021 (the 2020 season) and also in a 16-7 win over Cal in the NCAA Championship campaign of 1971.
A total of 10 Bruins scored as freshman Ryder Dodd paced the attack with a game-high eight points that included six goals (13th hat trick of the year) and two assists. Five other Bruins scored multiple goals with graduate transfers Nico Tierney and Aaron Voggenthaler, redshirt junior Chase Dodd, sophomore Ben Liechty, and freshman Peter Castillo all scoring twice against the Golden Bears.
Graduate student Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and played the first half and the first 3:30 of the third period to earn the win, allowing 13 goals and recording a season-low one save. Redshirt freshman Nate Tauscher came on in relief and played the last 12:30 of the game, holding California to just one goal while recording five stops and a personal-best four steals.
California held the lead for most of the first period, but the Bruins scored the final three goals to take a 7-5 lead into the second period. Ryder Dodd tied it at 5-5 (2:12) and then redshirt junior Eli Liechty gave the Bruins their first lead of the game at 6-5 (0:56) on a power play. Ben Liechty scored on a counter (0:17) to end the scoring in the opening period.
The Golden Bears won the second period, 5-4, to trim UCLA's lead to 11-10 at the break. Cal scored the first three goals of the second period to reclaim the lead at 8-7 at the 3:54 mark. But the Bruins returned the favor with a three-goal scoring streak to lead 10-8 with goals from Castillo (2:39), Tierney (2:15) and Ryder Dodd (1:47).
UCLA won the third period, 5-3, to take a 16-13 advantage into the final stanza. With the Bruins leading 14-13, UCLA Head Coach Adam Wright switched goalies and Tauscher came on and helped shut down the Golden Bears' offense. Sophomore Wade Sherlock (1:54) and Voggenthaler (1:18) both scored to stretch the Bruins lead heading into the fourth.
The Bruins dominated the fourth quarter, 4-1, to pull away from California with Ryder Dodd putting the team on his back, scoring all four goals of the fourth period for UCLA to provide the 20-14 final.
UP NEXT: The Bruins will stay in the Bay Area to face No. 2 Stanford tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 3) at 1:00 p.m. PT.
No. 1 UCLA at No. 7 California (MPSF Contest - Berkeley, Calif. - Game 20)
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Top-ranked UCLA (19-1, 3-1 MPSF West) had a tremendous offensive outburst to earn a huge 20-14 MPSF road win on Saturday afternoon at No. 7 California (11-9, 1-3 MPSF West) at Spieker Aquatics Complex. UCLA improved to 96-77-1 with their third straight win in games at California and the third lopsided win over the Golden Bears this season. Additionally, the 20 goals scored by the Bruins were the most ever scored against the Golden Bears in the history of the series (174 games). The previous high was 16 scored in a 17-16 overtime loss at California on Jan. 3, 2021 (the 2020 season) and also in a 16-7 win over Cal in the NCAA Championship campaign of 1971.
A total of 10 Bruins scored as freshman Ryder Dodd paced the attack with a game-high eight points that included six goals (13th hat trick of the year) and two assists. Five other Bruins scored multiple goals with graduate transfers Nico Tierney and Aaron Voggenthaler, redshirt junior Chase Dodd, sophomore Ben Liechty, and freshman Peter Castillo all scoring twice against the Golden Bears.
Graduate student Garret Griggs got the start in the cage and played the first half and the first 3:30 of the third period to earn the win, allowing 13 goals and recording a season-low one save. Redshirt freshman Nate Tauscher came on in relief and played the last 12:30 of the game, holding California to just one goal while recording five stops and a personal-best four steals.
California held the lead for most of the first period, but the Bruins scored the final three goals to take a 7-5 lead into the second period. Ryder Dodd tied it at 5-5 (2:12) and then redshirt junior Eli Liechty gave the Bruins their first lead of the game at 6-5 (0:56) on a power play. Ben Liechty scored on a counter (0:17) to end the scoring in the opening period.
The Golden Bears won the second period, 5-4, to trim UCLA's lead to 11-10 at the break. Cal scored the first three goals of the second period to reclaim the lead at 8-7 at the 3:54 mark. But the Bruins returned the favor with a three-goal scoring streak to lead 10-8 with goals from Castillo (2:39), Tierney (2:15) and Ryder Dodd (1:47).
UCLA won the third period, 5-3, to take a 16-13 advantage into the final stanza. With the Bruins leading 14-13, UCLA Head Coach Adam Wright switched goalies and Tauscher came on and helped shut down the Golden Bears' offense. Sophomore Wade Sherlock (1:54) and Voggenthaler (1:18) both scored to stretch the Bruins lead heading into the fourth.
The Bruins dominated the fourth quarter, 4-1, to pull away from California with Ryder Dodd putting the team on his back, scoring all four goals of the fourth period for UCLA to provide the 20-14 final.
UP NEXT: The Bruins will stay in the Bay Area to face No. 2 Stanford tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 3) at 1:00 p.m. PT.
No. 1 UCLA at No. 7 California (MPSF Contest - Berkeley, Calif. - Game 20)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 1 UCLA | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| No. 7 California | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
6x5 - UCLA - 8/15 - CAL - 6/10
Penalties - UCLA - 2/2 - CAL - 1/2
UCLA Goals: Ryder Dodd 6, Aaron Voggenthaler 2, Peter Castillo 2, Ben Liechty 2, Chase Dodd 2, Nico Tierney 2, `Frederico Jucá Carsalade 1, Eli Liechty 1, Marcell Szécsi 1, Wade Sherlock 1
UCLA Saves: Nate Tauscher 5, Garret Griggs 1
CAL Goals: Jake Howerton 5, Jordi Gascon 2, Max Casabella 2, Albert Ponferrada 1, Marci Szatmary 1, Bende Pardi 1, George Avakian 1, William Kelly 1
CAL Saves: Max LaGrange 4, Kai Seed 1