California Golden Bears Athletics
Thursday, September 24
5:00 pm PT
California
9-2
22
vs
8
Saint Mary's
5-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's (CA) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| California | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 22 |
Photo by: Emi Segovia/Cal Athletics
No. 4 Cal Defeats No. 19 Saint Mary’s 22-8
9/24/2026 7:07 PM | Men's Water Polo
Bears Win Inaugural Meeting
BERKELEY – The No. 4 California men's water polo defeated Saint Mary's 22-8 Thursday at Spieker Aquatics Complex in the two programs' inaugural meeting.
Sophomore Beso Akhlvediani only needed two and a half quarters in the pool to lead all players with seven points, collecting a hat trick with four assists and two steals. Six other Golden Bears joined him in with multi-goal efforts including Dominic Brown who had a team-high four goals on four attempts. Fellow center Ilias Angelopoulos was perfect from the field as well as the freshman went 2-for-2 with a drawn exclusion.
The Bears jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first six minutes of the games in the wire-to-wire victory. Their highest-scoring effort of the season saw Cal score six goals in the first quarter, seven in the second, four in the third, and five in the fourth while holding the Gaels to just four goals in the first three periods.
Goalkeepers Aran Pina and Riley Clansen split the cage duties in half with Pina earning the start. The sophomore collected six saves and three steals in the first half while the senior Clansen chipped in four saves and two steals.
Cal now hits the road for a pair of rematches in Los Angeles next week facing No. 3 USC on Saturday and No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on X (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
Sophomore Beso Akhlvediani only needed two and a half quarters in the pool to lead all players with seven points, collecting a hat trick with four assists and two steals. Six other Golden Bears joined him in with multi-goal efforts including Dominic Brown who had a team-high four goals on four attempts. Fellow center Ilias Angelopoulos was perfect from the field as well as the freshman went 2-for-2 with a drawn exclusion.
The Bears jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first six minutes of the games in the wire-to-wire victory. Their highest-scoring effort of the season saw Cal score six goals in the first quarter, seven in the second, four in the third, and five in the fourth while holding the Gaels to just four goals in the first three periods.
Goalkeepers Aran Pina and Riley Clansen split the cage duties in half with Pina earning the start. The sophomore collected six saves and three steals in the first half while the senior Clansen chipped in four saves and two steals.
Cal now hits the road for a pair of rematches in Los Angeles next week facing No. 3 USC on Saturday and No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on X (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's Water Polo
C
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water PoloTeam Stats
SMC
CAL
Shots
26
36
Goals
8
22
Assists
4
14
Points
12
36
Exclusions
4
8
Steals
8
15
Sprints
2
2
1
Beso Akhvlediani
7:25
Seth Bousfield
6:57
Dom Brown
6:30
Beso Akhvlediani
5:44
Patrik Kolak
1:55
Mason Black
1:38
Luke Bachler
0:31
Noah Bigara
0:09
2
Beso Akhvlediani
7:17
Mason Netzer
6:54
Seth Bousfield
4:36
Joao Leme
3:49
Luke Bachler
2:09
Leo Hachem
1:08
Ilias Angelopoulos
0:53
Mason Netzer
0:10
3
Ilias Angelopoulos
6:43
Noah Bigara
6:30
Tomas Perrone
5:36
Gigo Sarimsakci
1:42
Dom Brown
0:57
4
Wyatt Williamson
6:49
Mason Black
4:41
Dom Brown
4:09
Noah Bigara
3:23
Dom Brown
3:03
Milan Sumich
1:30
Wyatt Williamson
1:00
Rocco Di Rosa
0:46
Mason Black
0:20
Game Leaders
Shots
5
Goals
1
Assists
1
Points
2
Shots
4
Goals
4
Assists
0
Points
4
Shots
4
Goals
3
Assists
4
Points
7
Shots
4
Goals
2
Assists
3
Points
5
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