STANFORD – The No. 4 Cal women's water polo team jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over No. 1 Stanford on Sunday and hung close into the third quarter, but couldn't get over the hump in a 14-8 defeat to close out the Stanford Invitational.

Junior Maryn Dempsey got the Bears (7-2) started with a goal several minutes in, scoring on a great lead pass from goalkeeper Isabel Williams. Dempsey went on to finish with a team-high three assists, while Williams tallied six saves and a steal.

On the next possession, junior Maddie DeMattia drew Cal's first power play of the day. After a shot caromed off the post back towards the middle of the pool, the Bears got a second chance as junior Reagan Whitney scooped it up and fired it in to double their early advantage.

Soon after that, Williams made an incredible stop for one of her four first quarter saves, halting a Stanford 6-on-5 with her right arm as her momentum carried her to the left. The Cardinal (6-0) ended up closing the quarter with two goals to tie it 2-2 before scoring two more to open the second.

The Bears fought back and equalized with a pair of goals in quick succession. A patient build-up led to DeMattia finding space in center. She rose high to take a pass from Dempsey, guiding a quick touch with pace into the back of the net at the 3:30 mark of the second. Less than a minute later, Cecily Turner fed it inside to Janna Tauscher who sealed off her defender and snuck a slick back-handed shot just past goalkeeper Maya Avital, making it 4-4.

The Cardinal regained the lead before halftime and went up by two goals on a penalty early in the third. Sophomore Rozanne Voorvelt then became the first player from either side to convert a power play, taking an assist from Turner and putting it in from the outside to bring Cal back within a goal at 6-5.

Stanford went on a run from there, pulling away with a strong final stretch of the third. Turner, freshman Millie Quin and senior Shea Salvino all added fourth quarter goals for the Bears in their highest scoring period of the day.

Next Saturday, the Bears continue non-conference play at the Aggie Invite against California Baptist and No. 12 UC Davis.

No. 1 Stanford, No. 4 Cal
Stan 2 3 7 2 - 14
Cal 2 2 1 3 - 8
Stanford Goals: Jenna Flynn 4, Christina Hicks 2, Jewel Roemer 2, Skyler Jones 2, Ryann Neushul 2, Katie Lyons, Sophie Wallace
Cal Goals: Maryn Dempsey, Cecily Turner, Maddie DeMattia, Shea Salvino, Rozanne Voorvelt, Janna Tauscher, Millie Quin, Reagan Whitney
Stanford Saves: Maya Avital 10
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 6