DAVIS – Senior Kristina Garcia scored the only goal of overtime and came up with a key field block on the game's last possession, and the No. 7 Cal women's water polo team notched a gutsy 9-8 overtime victory over No. 14 UC Davis on Saturday morning.

The Bears (8-4) limped into overtime after allowing four unanswered goals to force the extra sessions with the game tied at 8-8, but Garcia put Cal back in front on a goal with 2:03 left in the first overtime period. She also made two key steals during overtime, and blocked a shot by UC Davis All-American Noelle Wijnbelt with time winding down to preserve the win.

"Kristina had a solid overtime, and she had some great moments in regulation as well," Cal head coach Coralie Simmons said. "She really settled in after we crumbled a little bit at the end of regulation. She was really able to zero in and do what was needed for us."

Freshman Ruby Swadling was spectacular for the Golden Bears with three goals, two assists and two steals. Leading scorer Brigit Mulder added two goals and two steals for Cal.

Senior Hannah DeRose, Mulder and junior Claire Sonne strung goals together to put the Bears in front 8-4 with with 6:55 to play, but the Aggies roared back, getting the overtime-forcing goal at the 1:37 mark of the fourth quarter.

"We just didn't take care of business in terms of game management," Simmons said. "It was a good test for us. I thought we played really well for about 32 minutes. It's a good learning curve for a number of our players."

Junior goalie Cassidy Ball made six saves for Cal.

The Bears are back in action next weekend at the prestigious Barbara Kalbus Invitational, which features 16 nationally ranked teams. Cal begins play in the tournament Friday against No. 10 Michigan.