BERKELEY, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's water polo team fell 25-8 to three-time defending national champion and eighth-ranked California on Saturday afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

The Bobcats (1-12) eight goals were the most against a Top 10 opponent in program history.

Camden Peterson led UC Merced's efforts with three goals for his fourth consecutive hat trick or better. Andrew Jones and Tommy Bauer scored two goals apiece, while William Pezold added a score of his own. Baur's multi-goal game was his first of the season.

William Kelley led California with five goals, including two within the first minutes of the match to help his Golden Bears squad jump out to a 4-0 lead.

Peterson got the Bobcats on the board with two minutes left in the first quarter. The sophomore scored again on the first possession of the second quarter to bring the Bobcats back within three goals at 5-2, but Cal responded with a goal scoring surge and carried a 13-4 lead into halftime.

Cal extended the lead to double figures 19 seconds into the third quarter and a 3-0 spurt to start the period made it 16-4 at the 5:51 mark. The Golden Bears never looked back, scoring seven goals overall in the third quarter and five in the fourth quarter.

Matthew Lloyd had seven saves in goal for the Bobcats. He was between the posts for the first half, while Ethan Stocker and Aidan Chirica split time in the cage in the second half and had two saves apiece. Chirica made his collegiate debut.

Looking ahead, UC Merced will travel to Cambridge, Mass., for the Harvard Invitational Oct. 19-20. UC Merced will play four matches at Blodgett Pool beginning with 20^th-ranked Wagner.