March 18, 2005

NORTHRIDGE, CA - The No. 6-ranked Cal women's water polo team broke away from a close match by outscoring Cal State Northridge, 4-0, in the final period on the way to a 11-6 victory over the Matadors Friday at Matador Pool. The Golden Bears improve to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the MPSF. The loss drops CSUN to 10-9 overall and 2-6 in league play.

Senior All-American Jodie Needles scored two goals, and junior Allison Gold and sophomore Elsie Windes added a goal apiece in Cal's dominant final period. The Matadors took an early advantage of a Bears squad that had to sit in traffic for the previous few hours. The match start time was delayed 45 minutes. Northridge would get on top 1-0 when senior Kristen Franz scored 52 seconds into the match and freshman Allison Brookes made it 2-0 at 4:28 on an ejection goal.

Cal responded with two goals of their own in a 21-second span to tie up the match at two. Annie Wight scored at 1:49 and Needles tallied at 1:28 for Cal. But the Matadors' Lynzy Klein scored on a four-meter goal with 70 seconds left to make it 3-2.

Cal would tie the match up at three when Lauren McGee scored an ejection goal at 2:27 of the second, but the Matadors responded with a goal to take a one-goal advantage. Christopher scored with 1:58 left to make it 4-3 at halftime.

But Cal scored four unanswered goals to take a 7-4 lead. In a 59-second span, Gold scored an ejection goal (6:21), while Needles (5:56) and Breana Allison (5:22) also scored to make it 6-4. Gold would add another goal at 4:35 to make the score 7-4.

However, the Matadors did not quit and answered with two Christopher goals at 2:12 and 56 seconds to end the period down 7-6.

Cal would not let CSUN back in the match though, scoring four straight in the fourth to win it 11-6. Gold tallied her third of the match at 6:34, Elsie Windes scored at 5:54 and Needles had back-to-back scores at 3:04 and 2:31 to make it a five-goal match. The Bears will next travel to No. 3-ranked Long Beach State, Saturday, Mar. 19 at 12 p.m. at Long Beach State's Campus Pool.

CAL  2  1  4  4  -  11
CSUN  3  1  2  0  -  6
CAL Goals: Jodie Needles 4, Allison Gold 3, Breana Allison,
Elsie Windes, Lauren McGee, Annie Wight, Elsie Windes
CSUN Goals: Chari Christopher 3, Allison Brooks,
Kristen Franz,  Lynzy Klien
Goalies: Alex Feune de Colombi (CAL), 3 saves;
Alexandra Lopez (CSN), 7 saves

First Quarter - Kristen Franz (CSUN) 6:08;
Allison Brookes (CSUN) 4:28; Annie Wight (CAL) 1;49;
Jodie Needles (CAL) 1:28; Lynzy Klein (CSUN) 1:10.
Second Quarter - Lauren McGee (CAL) 2:27;
Chari Christopher (CSUN) 1:58.
Third Quarter - Allison Gold (CAL) 6:21;
Jodie Needles (CAL) 5:56; Breana Allison (CAL) 5:22;
Allison Gold (CAL) 4:35; Chari Christopher (CSUN) 2:12;
 Chari Christopher (CSUN) :56.
Fourth Quarter - Allison Gold (CAL) 6:34; Elsie Windes (CAL)
5:54; Jodie Needles (CAL) 3:04; Jodie Needles (CAL) 2:31.