Cal Captures Two Wins To Open 2026 Competition

Saturday, August 29

La Jolla, CA

10:30 AM PT

California

1-0

UC Santa Barbara

2-1

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UC Santa Barbara	3	2	2	2	9
California	2	5	1	6	14

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
California	3	3	5	4	15
UC San Diego	2	3	3	3	11

Riley Clansen had a career-high 17 saves vs. UC San Diego.

Photo by: Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos

8/29/2026 6:23 PM | Men's Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Triton Invite

Bears Beat UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego At Triton Invite

By: Cal Athletics

LA JOLLA — The No. 4 California men's water polo team fought through early deficits with powerful second-half play to collect two wins in the Golden Bears' first official day of competition in 2026. Luke Bachler and Dom Brown tallied respective hat tricks in Cal's 14-9 victory over No. 15 UC Santa Barbara and 15-11 win over No. 12 host UC San Diego in Saturday's action at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla. Cal goalie Riley Clansen manned the cage for both games, topping out with 17 saves in the win over the Tritons to help the Bears to a 2-0 start to the year.

Cal's season opener against UC Santa Barbara saw the Bears fall behind 3-0 before making a four-goal rally to take the lead. The Bears would never trail the rest of the way, and two Cal freshmen would register their first career goals in the fourth from as João Leme and Mason Netzer got on the scoresheet to top off the 14-9 win. In addition to Bachler's hat trick, Cal received a pair apiece from Gigo Sarimsakci — who went back-to-back in the second to help build a lead for the Bears — along with Brown and Kai Inoue.

A few hours later, the Bears were back in the water to take on the host Tritons. After a tight first half, Cal unleashed five goals in the third period, including a pair from Alex Oprea, to lead it 11-8 entering the fourth. With Clansen continuing to make big stops in the cage, Cal extended its advantage and locked up the 15-11 win by scoring the final three goals of the game. Along the way to the victory, another Cal freshman punched up his first career goal when Ilias Angelopoulos converted on a first-period 5-meter penalty shot.

NOTABLE:
- Freshmen Ilias Angelopoulos, João Leme and Mason Netzer each scored their first goals as Bears.
- R-Junior goalie Riley Clansen set a new career high with 17 saves vs. UC San Diego.
- Dom Brown and Kai Inoue each scored multipole goals in both games.
- Brown led all Bears in scoring with five total goals.

NEXT:
Cal heads to Davis next week for competition at the Aggie Roundup, where the Bears face Harvard and San José State on Sept. 5 before two exhibition games on Sept. 6 against Cuesta and American River.

TRITON INVITATIONAL
Canyonview Aquatic Center | La Jolla, Calif.

GAME ONE
#4 Cal 14, #15 UC Santa Barbara 9
Aug. 29, 2026 | La Jolla, Calif.
UCSB 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 9
CAL 2 - 5 - 1 - 6 = 14

SCORING:
CAL — Luke Bachler 3, Gigo Sarimsakci 2, Kai Inoue 2, Dominic Brown 2, Seth Bousfield, Patrik Kolak, João Leme, Alex Oprea, Mason Netzer.
UCSB — Luigi Canepa 5, Finn Genc 2, Camren Simoncelli, Kai Ross.

SAVES: Riley Clansen (CAL) 6, Wyatt Pieretti (UCSB) 10.

GAME TWO
#4 Cal 15, #12 UC San Diego 11
Aug. 29, 2026 | La Jolla, Calif.
CAL 3 - 3 - 5 - 4 = 15
UCSD 2 - 3 - 3 - 3 = 11

SCORING:
CAL — Dominic Brown 3, Beso Akhvlediani 2, Alex Oprea 2, Kai Inoue 2, Patrik Kolak 2, Ilias Angelopoulos, Ryder Hagan, Maddox Arlett, Luke Bachler.
UCSD — Hammonds 4, Boettner 3, Bugelli 2, Wright, Presley

SAVES: Riley Clansen (CAL) 17, Alex Hegeman (UCSD) 7.