UCLA
24-1
California
15-7
Top-Ranked Bruins Advance to MPSF Final with 11-9 Win Over Cal
November 22, 2025 | Men's Water Polo
STANFORD, Calif. -- No. 1 UCLA (24-1) used a 4-0 scoring run in a dominant second quarter to enable a come-from-behind win over No. 4 California (15-7), 11-9, in the first semifinal of the 2025 MPSF Championship tournament at Avery Aquatic Center on Saturday afternoon. The Bruins improved to 101-77-1 all-time against the Golden Bears.
The Bruins' offense was paced by a quartet of players with two goal apiece that included redshirt junior Frederico Jucá Carsalade, junior Marcell Szécsi, and sophomores Bode Brinkema and Peter Castillo. Brinkema (one assist) and Jucá Carsalade (one assist) as well as sophomore Ryder Dodd (one goal, two assists) tied for the team lead in scoring with three points.
Redshirt sophomore Nate Tauscher got the starting nod and went the distance, tallying nine saves (including one on a penalty) and two steals while allowing nine goals.
California jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period. But UCLA scored four straight to open the second quarter, claiming its first lead of the game (2:20) on Szécsi's second-straight goal from two meters. Cal answered the Bruins' run with a score to send it to the break tied at 4-4. UCLA won a high-scoring third period, 5-4, to take a 9-8 lead into the final stanza. The Bruins would also win a defensive-minded fourth period, 2-1, to provide the 11-9 final.
Up Next: The Bruins advanced to the MPSF Championship game where they will face No. 2 USC on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3:00 p.m. PT.
No. 4 California vs. No. 1 UCLA (Avery Aquatic Center - MPSF Championship - Semifinals - Game 25)
| SCOREBOARD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| No. 4 California | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 11 |
6x5 - UCLA - 3/10 - CAL - 1/8
Penalties - UCLA - 0/0 - CAL- 2/3
CAL Goals: Beso Akhvlediani 3, Bende Pardi 3, Tomas Perrone 2, Albert Ponferrada 1
CAL Saves: Aran Pina 4
UCLA Goals: Frederico Jucá Carsalade 2, Marcell Szécsi 2, Bode Brinkema 2, Peter Castillo 2, Gray Carson 1, Chase Dodd 1, Ryder Dodd 1
UCLA Saves: Nate Tauscher 9
Team Stats
Tomas Perrone
07:01
Beso Akhvlediani
02:25
Albert Ponferrada
01:30
Gray Carson
06:06
Bode Brinkema
03:57
Marcell Szecsi
02:51
Marcell Szecsi
02:20
Beso Akhvlediani
01:49
Peter Castillo
07:00
Bende Pardi
06:26
Bode Brinkema
06:16
Bende Pardi
05:51
Frederico Juca Carsalade
05:32
Tomas Perrone
04:15
Peter Castillo
02:47
Beso Akhvlediani
01:11
Chase Dodd
00:46
Ryder Dodd
05:49
Frederico Juca Carsalade
01:18
Bende Pardi
01:04
