NCAA Water Polo Championship : UCLA Rallies to Catch Cal, Then Loses, 14-11

In need of being rescued from a frenzied comeback, California called on Julian Bailey, and the sophomore sank UCLA’s hopes of becoming water polo champions Sunday night.

Bailey scored three of his four goals in the fourth quarter as the Golden Bears defeated the Bruins, 14-11, in the title game of the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

“I was scared for my team,” said Bailey, who returned to the game in the final period after sitting out the second and third quarters because he had two ejections.

The Golden Bears, who had once led, 6-2, had been caught, 9-9, shortly after Bailey got back in the game.

But Bailey rose from the water on the left side, faked several times and fired a hard shot from the left side past goalie Mike VanderWaerdt to make it 10-9.

Then after Fernando Carsalade answered for UCLA, Bailey, admittedly a streak shooter, lobbed the ball over VanderWaerdt for an 11-10 Cal lead.

That was all the inspiration the Golden Bears (33-3) needed as they went on to win their second straight championship.

Cal used its counter-attack to outswim the Bruins at the beginning and had a 4-0 lead before 3 minutes had elapsed.

But UCLA fought back and turned the game into a physical battle.

“I don’t think we slowed down or stopped, UCLA just took it to us,” said Cal Coach Pete Cutino, who was thrown into the pool by his celebrating players.

UCLA, which has not won the title since 1972, finished 29-6.