March 31, 2007

HONOLULU, HAWAII - The No. 4-ranked California women's water polo team received two goals apiece from junior Molly Hayes and freshmen Julie Oreglia, Meghan Corso and Grace Reynolds, but were still edged out by No. 7-ranked Hawaii, 10-9, Saturday at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex in Honolulu. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 11-8 overall and 7-3 in the MPSF, while the Golden Bears fell to 8-8 and 4-4 in conference play.

Angela Turnbull got the scoring started for UH in the first whipping in a shot from the left front. After Cal's Oreglia scored a minute later, it was Turnbull again going bar-down to give UH a 2-1 lead. The Bears then got back-to-back goals from freshman Darby Anderson and Corso to take their first lead, 3-2. UH's Kelly Mason knotted the score finding the left corner of the cage at 1:56. Lisa van Raalte then put the Rainbow Wahine up 4-3 with just under a minute remaining in the period. A UH 5-meter penalty with 35 seconds left in the quarter gave Cal's Hayes a penalty shot to tie it at four.

In a very defensive second quarter, the Bears struck first on Oreglia's second goal with 5:21 left. UH's Turnbull turned in the hat trick at 3:23 to tie it going to halftime.

UH controled the third quarter as Amy Logan drilled a shot through the right side on a 6-on-5 opportunity on UH's opening possession. Logan gave UH a two-goal lead three minutes later. Cal's Reynolds pulled the Bears to within one at the 2:30 mark heading to the final period.

Mason tallied her second goal at 5:40 to give UH a two-goal lead, 8-6. But Cal fought back to tie it on goals by Hayes and Reynolds at 3:12. Logan would put UH up for good rattling the cage at 1:46. A UH 5-meter penalty at 1:33 gave Cal a chance to tie but Hayes' penalty shot hit the left bar and UH took over. On UH's next possession, van Raalte, who got fouled at the 5-meter area, immediately stood up and rifled in a goal with 52 seconds left that proved to be the game winner. The Bears' Corso netted her second goal with 21 seconds left and UH ran out the clock to preserve the win.

Both Hawaii goalie Meike De Nooy, and Cal goalie Heather Stuart, finished with nine saves.

The Bears next host Arizona State on Saturday, Apr. 7 at 12 p.m. at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

Cal     4       1       1       3       -       9
UH      4       1       2       3       -       10
CAL Goals:  Julie Oreglia (2), Molly Hayes (2),
Meghan Corso (2), Grace Reynolds (2), Darby Anderson.
CAL Goalie Saves:   Heather Stuart (9).
UH Goals:  Angela Turnbull (3), Amy Logan (3),
Lisa van Raalte (2), Kelly Mason (2).
UH Goalie Saves:   Meike De Nooy (9).