Cal Downs UCLA, 13 to 11, to Win 3rd Consecutive NCAA Men's Water Polo Title
Cal won their third consecutive NCAA men's water polo title, and their 17th overall, beating UCLA 13-11 on Sunday.
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Cal won their third consecutive NCAA men's water polo title, and their 17th overall, beating UCLA 13-11 on Sunday.
This post was updated Dec. 3 at 11:04 p.m. UCLA defeated California three times in 2023. Once in September and twice in October, the Bruins enacted revenge on the team that previously served them seven straight losses entering the year.
Despite making up only 16.1% of the nation’s top-ranked team, foreign-born Bruins have managed to shine in the pool. Freshman Marcell Szécsi is no exception. After scoring the first goal of UCLA men’s water polo’s 2023 season, the Hungarian center made a splash as the MPSF West/S&R Sport Newcomer of the Week on both Sept.
It was in the quiet before the storm where Rafael Real Vergara found his flow. “I think they were pressing me more in the beginning, and then our players were also getting goals or getting balls to the center,” the senior attacker said.
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.