April 14, 2012

STANFORD, CALIF. - The No. 4-ranked California women's water polo team, which had upended No. 1-ranked UCLA last weekend (8-6), could not defeat the new No. 1 Stanford, falling to the Cardinal, 11-5, Saturday (April 14) in the Big Splash at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center. The Golden Bears, now 17-7 overall and 4-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, were led by two goals from junior center Dana Ochsner.

As a result of the loss to the Cardinal, Cal will be the No. 5 seeded team entering the April 27-29 MPSF Tournament at Stanford and will play No. 4 seed Arizona State at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 27. Richard Corso's squad had captured the 2011 MPSF Tournament and ended the year finishing as the national runners-up after falling to Stanford, 9-5, in the NCAA finals.

The Bears had fallen behind the Cardinal, 6-1, after the first two periods and were not able to recover. Cal did, however, outscored Stanford, 3-2, in the third period. Besides Ochsner's two goals, junior Kirstn Mase, sophomore Kelly Mendoza and freshman Tiera Schroader also scored for the Bears. Junior goalie Lindsay Dorst finished with six saves.

California - 0 1 3 1 = 5

Stanford - 3 3 2 3 = 11

California Goal Scorers: Dana Ochsner 2, Kirstn Mase, Kelly Mendoza, Tiera Schroeder

Stanford Goal Scorers: Neushul 5, K. Dodson 2, Churnside, Garton, Grossman, Menon

Goalie Saves: Baldoni 10 (S); Lindsay Dorst 6 (C)