IRVINE – If USC is the No. 1 team in the country, the Cal women's water polo team seems to be in a pretty good position.

The No. 4 Bears took the Trojans to the limit on Saturday in the semifinals of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at UC Irvine, falling 9-8 in a game they led in the third quarter.

"I think we showed the nation how tough we are," Cal head coach Coralie Simmons said. "I think we're the toughest team in America."

And one of the best. Cal (9-2) started the day by knocking off No. 5 Hawai'I 12-10 – the Bears' third win over a top-10 opponent this season. Junior All-American Emma Wright had six goals combined on the day.

Senior All-American Madison Tagg made 14 saves against the Trojans.

"We finally allowed her to do what she is supposed to do," Simmons said. "That's what we expect of her. Our team defense was where it needed to be, and it helped her a lot."

It was easily USC's closest game of the season. The defending NCAA champions are 16-0 with their next-closest game coming earlier Saturday in a7-1 victory over No. 8 Arizona State.

The game was close throughout, with the teams alternating goals until the Bears scored two in a row to lead 4-3 with 3:28 left in the third quarter. USC fought back and led 9-6 with 5:25 to play, but back-to-back goals by Brigit Mulder cut the deficit to one with 2:48 remaining.

"I keep telling them they are a team of really good role players," Simmons said. "It's hard to find cracks in our squad. As long as we play as a team, we can be really tough. If we have the ability to come and play our game, we are going to be right in the mix."

Freshman Carla Traplin turned in a hat trick against the Trojans while Wright had four against Hawai'I and sophomore Elli Protopapas had three.

The Bears close out the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Sunday in the Third Place Game against No. 3 UCLA at 11:30 a.m.

 
No. 4 Cal 12, No. 5 Hawai'I 10
Haw 3 3 2 2 – 10
Cal 4 2 4 2 – 12
Hawai'I Goals: Irene Gonzalez 5, Carmen Baringo 2, Elyse Lemay-Lavole, Maxine Schaap, Alba Bonamusa.
Cal Goals: Emma Wright 4, Elli Protopapas 3, Claire Sonne 2, Brigit Mulder, Sarah Siepker, Carla Traplin.
Hawaii Saves: Molly DiLalla 6.
Cal Saves: Madison Tagg 5
 
No. 1 USC 9, No. 4 Cal 8
Cal 1 2 2 3 – 8
USC 1 2 3 3 – 9
Cal Goals: Carla Traplin 3, Emma Wright 2, Brigit Mulder 2, Hannah DeRose.
USC Goals: Maud Megens 3, Bayley Weber 2, Tilly Kearns 2, Kelsey McIntosh 2.
Cal Saves: Madison Tagg 14.
USC Saves: Amanda Longan 11