April 13, 2007

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - The No. 5-ranked California women's water polo team battled No. 3-ranked USC tough early, but yielded seven straight goals to the Women of Troy between the second and third periods to fall 12-7 Friday night at the McDonald's Swim Stadium in Los Angeles. The Golden Bears (9-9, 5-5 in MPSF) were led by two goals apiece from senior Elsie Windes and freshman Meghan Corso. Junior goalie Heather Stuart notched eight saves. USC improved to 15-4 and 8-2 in league.

There were a grand total of 30 kickouts and two penalties in the match. After a tight start to the contest in which the teams matched each other goal-for-goal for a 2-2 tie in the first period, USC worked its way ahead. The Trojans allowed only one natural goal from the Bears in the second period - a score from U.S. National Teamer Windes - that brought the Bears within one at 4-3 with 3:22 left in the half. Michelle Stein would score her second of three on the day when her shot ricocheted of a Cal defender's arm with the Trojans up 6-on-4. That put USC up 5-3 in the match, and sparked what would grow to be a seven-goal scoring streak for the Women of Troy.

Veronika BArtunkova went bar-in to open the third and lift USC ahead to its largest lead of the game at 6-3. But that advantage would grow to 11-3 by the fourth. USC silenced the Bears in the third and squelched three Cal 6-on-5 opportunities behind a steal by Forel Davies, a Jana Wenger field block and a field save from Miranda Nichols and a 5-on-6 save by goalie Tumua Anae. Meanwhile, Stein finished off a swift 6-on-5 assist from Patty Cardenas, Erika Figge sliced in the finishing touches on a USC counterattack off a Nichols steal, and Brittany Hayes took another Cardenas assist and put away a one-on-one chance to lift USC ahead 9-3 for the final period of play.

The whistle kept blowing in the fourth, as Nichols scored on a USC 6-on-5 to notch the Trojans' fifth straight goal. Kami Craig and Nichols each earned a five-meter penalty shot with some powerful work at set, and Figge skipped home the ensuing shots to get her to four goals on the day. A series of Cal 6-on-5 chances would go well for the Bears. They capped off their first with another goal from Windes to end USC's scoring blitz and make the score 11-4. Figge's fourth goal came next, and then Cal managed three straight scores to close out the match.

The Bears next visit No. 19 Cal State Northridge, Saturday, Apr. 14 at 12 p.m. at Matador Pool.

Cal 2 - 1 - 0 - 4 --- 7
USC 2 - 3 - 4 - 3 --- 12

USC - Erika Figge 4, Michelle Stein 3,
Brittany Hayes 2, Kami Craig,
Veronika Bartunkova, Miranda Nichols.

Cal - Elsie Windes 2, Meghan Corso 2,
Molly Hayes, Paige Lorenz, Grace Reynolds.