Nov. 29, 2008

MALIBU, CALIF. -

The No. 3 ranked Cal men's water polo team, the fifth seed in the MPSF Tournament, fell to 18-9 with a 13-12 sudden-death overtime loss to UC Irvine, the eighth seed, in a MPSF consolation semifinal match, Saturday, November 29th at the Raleigh Runnels Aquatic Center in Malibu. Against UC Irvine, Cal was led by sophomore Brian Dudley with three goals.

UC Irvine's Brandon Johnson converted a penalty shot in sudden-death overtime to the Anteaters past the Golden Bears.

The Anteaters led 7-5 at halftime, breaking a 5-5 tie late in the second quarter on goals by James Frank (1:51) and Jesse Hatch (:49). Cal took a 9-8 lead after three quarters as Jack Stampfl (2:57) and Cory Nasoff (1:52) scored to overcome an 8-7 UCI lead.

Two consecutive goals by Brandon Johnson to open the fourth period gave the Anteaters a 10-9 lead, but Cal's Brian Dudley (1:49) and Spencer Warden (1:01) countered to give the Bears an 11-10 advantage before Kruip scored with 15 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game.

UC Irvine's Greg Enloe and Cal's Frank Reynolds traded goals in the first overtime period and neither team scored in the second extra session, setting up Brandon Johnson's game-winning penalty shot in sudden death.

Cal next plays Long Beach State on Sunday, November 30th at 10 a.m. Long Beach State fell to UC Santa Barbara 13-12 in sudden-death overtime on Saturday.

CALIFORNIA 12, UC IRVINE 13

California 2 - 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 --- 12

UC Irvine 3 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 --- 13

UCI: Brandon Johnson 4, Greg Enloe 3, James Frank 2, Thomas Kruip 2, Griffin Lerman 1, Jesse Hatch 1.

Saves: Jacob McIntosh (Cal) 2, Wil Toppen (Cal) 3; Matt Johnson (UCI) 9.