BERKELEY – The No. 3 California women's water polo team got out to a fast start Wednesday evening against No. 16-T Harvard and never looked back, claiming a 13-9 win behind hat tricks from juniors Ruby Swadling and Reagan Whitney.

The Golden Bears (14-4) jumped out to a 6-0 advantage through one quarter and led by at least three goals the rest of the way. They improve to 5-0 all-time against the Crimson (16-3), which entered the midweek game at Spieker Aquatics Center with its second-best record ever through 18 games.

Senior goalkeeper Isabel Williams was a catalyst on both ends of the Bears' dominant opening period, racking up three saves, two steals and two assists within eight minutes of play. On successive possessions, Williams assisted Swadling's first strike at the 4:59 mark and got a steal leading to a second straight Swadling goal. 

Swadling later sealed her third hat trick in four games, giving her 12 goals over that stretch and increasing her team-leading season total to 31.

Also putting up big numbers was senior Shea Salvino, who had a goal to go with her game-high four assists.

The Crimson managed to hang tough after a slow start, but Whitney put in two key second quarter goals to stave off the visitors. The Los Angeles native eventually finished with three goals for the third time this season.

Seven other Bears scored in the game and Cal matched Harvard with four goals in a hard-fought second half. Williams finished with 10 saves and a season-best five steals.

The Bears' four-game homestand comes to an end this Saturday when they host No. 19 Indiana in their Title IX Celebration Game. Former Bear players spanning all the way back to the mid-1970s – when the Cal women's water program first began as a club team – will be welcomed back and honored prior to the game.

No. 3 Cal 13, No. 16-T Harvard 9
Cal 6 3 1 3 – 13
Harvard 0 5 1 3 – 9
Cal Goals: Ruby Swadling 3, Reagan Whitney 3, Mallory Reynoso, Maddie DeMattia, Shea Salvino, Rozanne Voorvelt, Janna Tauscher, Lindsey Harris, Millie Quin
Harvard Goals: Ruby Hodge 3, Borden Wahl 2, Dany Zapata, Grace Thawley, Evan Tingler, Sasha Constandse
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 10
Harvard Saves: Zoe Banks 11


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