The Caltech Men's Water Polo team competed in four games at the Cypress College Invitational on September 4–5 at Cypress College. The championship-format tournament featured two brackets of four teams, with the first three games consisting of pool play followed by a crossover game to determine final placement.
The Beavers battled through four games of competition, finishing the weekend with a victory over Crafton Hills in the fifth-place game on Saturday.
Game 1: Caltech vs. Rio Hondo — 18-20 Loss
The Beavers opened the tournament against Rio Hondo on Friday, September 4, at 10:15 a.m. Caltech was immediately tested by the Road Runners' offensive firepower in a high-scoring matchup. The teams traded goals throughout the opening quarter, ending the period tied at 5-5.
Three first-year Beavers contributed goals in the opening quarter.
Alex Alexandrov (Atlanta, Ga. / Chamblee),
Patrick Feng (Redmond, Wash. / Interlake), and
Dane Torgerson (Auburn, Calif. / Bear River) each found the back of the net to keep Caltech even with Rio Hondo.
The offensive battle continued into the second quarter. Alexandrov added three more goals, while junior
Carl Crum (San Carlos, Calif. / Sacred Heart Preparatory) contributed two goals, two assists, one drawn exclusion, and two steals during the first half.
Caltech came out strong after halftime, outscoring the Roadrunners 7-4 in the third quarter and beginning to mount a comeback. Noah van Beurden (Perkasie, Penn. / Pennridge) scored his second goal of the game, while Crum continued to provide energy and offensive production for the Beavers.
Despite Caltech's strong second-half effort, Rio Hondo managed to score several crucial goals late in the game to maintain its lead. The Beavers ultimately fell just short, losing 20-18.
Game 2: Caltech vs. Santa Monica — 18-13 Win
The Beavers returned to the pool later Friday to face the Santa Monica Corsairs and secured their first victory of the tournament, winning 18-13.
Caltech once again produced a balanced offensive attack, with assists coming from 10 different Beavers. Senior
Justin Hong (Pasadena, Calif. / Pasadena) led the team with five goals, while junior
Carl Crum continued to make an impact on both ends of the pool.
The Beavers established control early, taking a 10-6 lead into halftime. Senior goalkeeper
Shuhul Mujoo (San Jose, Calif. / Evegreen Valley) played an important role in maintaining the advantage, recording five key saves during the first half.
Santa Monica continued to battle and drew more exclusions than Caltech throughout the game. However, strong team defense helped the Beavers protect their lead. The third and fourth quarters were evenly matched, but Caltech's strong first-half performance proved to be enough to secure the 18-13 victory.
Game 3: Caltech vs. Cypress College — 5-13 Loss
To begin the second day of competition, the Beavers faced the host team, the Cypress College Chargers, in their third game of the tournament.
The opening quarter was a defensive battle, with Cypress holding a narrow 2-1 lead at the end of the period. The Chargers would go on to provide one of Caltech's toughest challenges of the tournament.
Caltech received important offensive contributions from its first-year class, with
Ethan Hale (Eugene, Ore. / South Eugene High School), Torgerson and Feng each scoring a goal.
First-year
Alex Alexandrov also continued his strong tournament, scoring two of Caltech's five goals while recording one steal and drawing one exclusion. Alexandrov remained a consistent threat on both offense and defense throughout the contest.
Despite the loss, the game highlighted the depth and potential of Caltech's younger players. Eight different Beavers recorded steals during the game, demonstrating the team's ability to create defensive pressure.
Head Coach
Jon Bonafede and the Beavers will use the matchup as an opportunity to continue developing their defensive strategies as the season progresses. Caltech then regrouped for its final game of the tournament, a rematch against Crafton Hills for fifth place.
Game 4: Caltech vs. Crafton Hills — 10-5 Win
In the final game of the tournament, the Beavers faced Crafton Hills in a rematch for fifth place. Caltech had previously defeated Crafton Hills on August 28 in a head-to-head matchup to open the season in Yucaipa, CA.
The Beavers once again came away victorious, earning a 10-5 win to close out the tournament.
Goalkeeper Mujoo delivered a standout performance, recording nine saves, one assist, and one steal. The Beavers also received contributions from nine additional players who recorded steals, while five different Caltech players found the back of the net.
The strong defensive effort and balanced team play allowed Caltech to control the game and finish the weekend with a decisive victory.
Coach
Jon Bonafede and the Beavers were pleased with their performance and progress throughout the weekend.
"This is a very coachable team, and they are getting better every quarter," said Bonafede. "It was fun to see us progress and have many players step up this weekend. We are excited for the rest of the season."
With the tournament complete, the Beavers will return home with a 3-2 record as they prepare to face the Chaffey College Panthers in their home opener on September 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
Go Tech!
