BERKELEY – Junior All-American Ruby Swadling scored a career-high six goals – including the equalizer to force overtime with seven seconds remaining in regulation – but the No. 3 California women's water polo team was edged by No. 2 USC 15-14 on Saturday afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

Swadling added two steals and an assist while senior Cecily Turner pitched in with three goals and two assists for the Golden Bears (13-4, 1-1 MPSF), who fought back from a 6-2 deficit after the first quarter to take a 13-12 lead early in the first overtime session.

Junior Maryn Dempsey also had three goals for Cal while goalie Isabel Williams had eight saves – moving past Fana Fuqua for No. 7 on the Bears' all-time saves list – and a game-tying goal during the second overtime in a 7-on-6 situation.

The Bears' defense tightened up in the second quarter, holding the Trojans to a single goal to close to 7-5 at halftime. After falling behind 7-3 with 2:45 remaining in the first half, Cal ended up scoring four in a row to knot the game at 7-7 at the 5:46 mark of the third quarter.

The teams traded scores until USC registered back-to-back goals to establish a 12-10 advantage with 1:31 to play in the game. But Swadling took over, scoring on a power play with 1:06 remaining before notching the game-tying goal to force overtime.

Dempsey gave the Bears their first and only lead of the game at the 1:48 mark of the first overtime, but the Trojans scored the next two to go back in front. After Williams tied it, the Trojans scored with seven seconds to go to secure the victory.

Cal takes a break from MPSF play Wednesday to host No. 16 Harvard at 5 p.m. PT.

 
No. 2 USC 15, No. 3 Cal 14 (OT)
USC 6 1 2 3 2 1 – 15
Cal 2 3 4 3 1 1 – 14
USC Goals: Bayley Weber 4, Tilly Kearns 3, Grace Tehaney 2, Honnie Vandeweghe 2, Paige Hauschild, Julia Janov, Alejandra Aznar, Fanni Muzsnay.
Cal Goals: Ruby Swadling 6, Maryn Dempsey 3, Cecily Turner 3, Isabel Williams, Rozanne Voorvelt.
USC Saves: Caroline Stern 12.
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 8.


STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWWPolo), Instagram (@calwwpolo) and Facebook (CalWomensWaterPolo).