BERKELEY, Calif. — No. 4 California scored the go-ahead try in the 75th minute to hand No. 1 Navy its first loss of the season 52-45 Saturday afternoon at Witter Rugby Field in a back-and-forth matchup between national powers.
 
Avion Ganse led Navy with a hat trick, scoring three tries, while Andrew Baublitz added two tries and Roanin Krieger contributed five conversions and a penalty kick. California was paced by Oliver Newall's two tries, while Rand Santos added a try and converted six kicks for the Golden Bears.
 
"Obviously we are very disappointed with the result of today's game," Navy director of rugby Gavin Hickie said. "I am incredibly proud of the effort from the team today and we will regroup."
 
California opened the scoring early when Newall broke free for a try in the third minute. Santos added the conversion to give the Golden Bears a 7-0 lead. California extended its advantage in the 14th minute when Nate Comiskey crossed the try line and Santos converted again to push the lead to 14-0.
 
Navy answered in the 15th minute as Krieger knocked through a penalty kick to cut the deficit to 14-3. The Midshipmen continued their response three minutes later when Ganse sprinted in for a try in the 18th minute. Krieger added the conversion to bring Navy within four points at 14-10.
 
Navy took its first lead in the 26th minute when Dalton Sand powered through a maul for a try. Krieger's conversion gave the Midshipmen a 17-14 advantage.
 
The Midshipmen extended the margin in the 35th minute when Baublitz finished an attacking sequence with a try. Krieger converted to stretch Navy's lead to 24-14.
 
California answered quickly in the 37th minute as Michal de Beer crossed the try line. Santos converted the kick to trim the deficit to 24-21.
 
Navy responded just before halftime when Baublitz scored his second try of the afternoon in the 39th minute. Krieger's conversion sent the Midshipmen into the break with a 31-21 lead.
 
California opened the second-half scoring in the 46th minute as Elliott Lewis powered in for a try, cutting Navy's advantage to 31-26.
 
The Golden Bears regained the lead in the 52nd minute when Newall recorded his second try of the game. Santos converted to give California a 33-31 edge.
 
Navy reclaimed the lead in the 55th minute when Ganse fought through defenders for his second try of the game. Krieger's conversion pushed the Midshipmen back in front, 38-33.
 
California answered again in the 59th minute when Santos crossed the try line to tie the game at 38-38.
 
Navy responded in the 63rd minute as Ganse broke free for his third try of the afternoon to complete the hat trick. Krieger added the conversion to give the Midshipmen a 45-38 lead.
 
California answered just two minutes later in the 65th minute when Masi Koi scored a try. Santos converted the attempt to even the score at 45-45.
 
The decisive score came in the 75th minute when Oliver Teague crossed for a try to give California a 50-45 lead. Santos converted to extend the margin to 52-45, and the Golden Bears held off Navy over the final minutes to secure the victory.
 
The Mids return to the pitch next week to cap off their West Coast trip against BYU on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
 
Box Score
3:00 – Try – California – Oliver Newall (0-5)
Conversion – Rand Santos (0-7)
 
14:00 – Try – California – Nate Comiskey (0-12)
Conversion – Rand Santos (0-14)
 
15:00 – Penalty kick – Navy – Roanin Krieger (3-14)
 
18:00 – Try – Navy – Avion Ganse (8-14)
Conversion – Roanin Krieger (10-14)
 
26:00 – Try – Navy – Dalton Sand (15-14)
Conversion – Roanin Krieger (17-14)
 
35:00 – Try – Navy – Andrew Baublitz (22-14)
Conversion – Roanin Krieger (24-14)
 
37:00 – Try – California – Michal de Beer (24-19)
Conversion – Rand Santos (24-21)
 
39:00 – Try – Navy – Andrew Baublitz (29-21)
Conversion – Roanin Krieger (31-21)
 
46:00 – Try – California – Elliott Lewis (31-26)
 
52:00 – Try – California – Oliver Newall (31-31)
Conversion – Rand Santos (31-33)
 
55:00 – Try – Navy – Avion Ganse (36-33)
Conversion – Roanin Krieger (38-33)
 
59:00 – Try – California – Rand Santos (38-38)
 
63:00 – Try – Navy – Avion Ganse (43-38)
Conversion – Roanin Krieger (45-38)
 
65:00 – Try – California – Masi Koi (45-43)
Conversion – Rand Santos (45-45)
 
75:00 – Try – California – Oliver Teague (45-50)
Conversion – Rand Santos (45-52)