Rafael Real News Today

Cal won their third consecutive NCAA men's water polo title, and their 17th overall, beating UCLA 13-11 on Sunday.

The fate of an entire season rested within the bounds of six minutes. Senior attacker Makoto Kenney pump-faked a shot from the center of the pool but instead passed to MPSF Player of the Year, Rafael Real Vergara.

The Bruins had the chance to relight the spark of their undefeated season but ultimately failed to exit the loss column. “We can really see that if we don’t play the right way and play the way we need to, the result that shows,” said senior goalkeeper Garret Griggs.

Under ordinary circumstances, a team that has already clinched the top seed in its conference tournament could see the final game of the regular season as a formality.

Almost every great story has a dynamic duo. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Tom Brady and Julian Edelman. No. 1 UCLA men’s water polo has a pair of its own: attackers Jack Larsen and Rafael Real Vergara.

The Bruins plan to stick to their defensive strategy as they reach the middle portion of a five-game homestand. “Our approach is going to be the same like every day,” said senior attacker Rafael Real Vergara.

Statistics can tell a story. But the scoreboard isn’t enough to encapsulate Saturday’s crosstown showdown. In its best defensive game of the season, No. 1 UCLA men’s water polo (18-0, 4-0 MPSF) held No.

There’s an unspoken chemistry in the pool between attackers Frederico Jucá Carsalade and Rafael Real Vergara. The redshirt freshman and senior are Brazilian, have known each other since youth and appeared Saturday in their first home contest at Spieker Aquatics Center.