BERKELEY, Calif. — On October 31, 2026, the University of California, Berkeley men’s water polo team registered a 14-12 victory over the top-ranked UCLA Bruins at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The Golden Bears improved to 13-4 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), while UCLA dropped to 17-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Head coach Kirk Everist reached a significant milestone by earning his 500th career win, becoming the sixth California coach to achieve this mark and the ninth coach in men’s water polo to join the 500-win club.
Sophomore attacker Beso Akhvlediani led the offense with a hat trick, four assists, two field blocks, and one drawn exclusion. Freshman Ilia Angelopoulos added two goals and forced four drawn exclusions, while junior Maddox Arlett tied his career high with three goals on 3-for-4 shooting, supplemented by two assists and one steal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Aran Pina was instrumental defensively, making 14 saves—one shy of his career best—and helping the Bears kill 11 of UCLA’s 12 power play opportunities. The team shot .467 from the field and assisted on all but one goal throughout the game. California maintained the lead for the entire match and improved to a 6-0 record at home this season.
The Golden Bears are set to face No. 4 USC at home on November 1, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. PT, aiming to extend their momentum in key MPSF matchups.
CSB Take
Kirk Everist’s 500th win marks a distinguished achievement that highlights his durable coaching legacy at California. The Golden Bears demonstrated a strong, balanced performance offensively and defensively to topple the nation’s top-ranked squad. Their undefeated home record this season signals the team’s growing confidence and readiness for elevated competition as they pursue postseason success. Upcoming games against elite conference rivals like USC will provide further tests of their championship potential.
Source: Original report
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