BERKELEY – The No. 3 California women's water polo team leaned on its defense on Saturday, allowing its fewest goals in seven games to defeat No. 19 Indiana 9-7 at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

Redshirt freshman Claire Rowell was the star of the Golden Bears' (15-4, 2-1) offense, putting in a season-best four goals on a day where she was the only player on the team with more than one. Unsurprisingly, the defense was led by another stellar performance from senior goalkeeper Isabel Williams, who tallied a season-high five steals for the second straight game to go along with eight saves.

Williams' first three steals came on three straight first quarter possessions, one time leading to a Cal transition opportunity which Rowell tucked away for the game's opening goal. The Hoosiers (13-9, 0-3) scored the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead into the second frame.

Redshirt freshman Janna Tauscher tied the game less than a minute into the second. Junior Ruby Swadling made an exceptional individual play on the next possession, snatching the ball away with great pressure near the middle of the pool and taking it herself before slotting her team-leading 32nd goal of the year. Rowell later converted a 6-on-5 to give Cal a 4-3 edge heading into halftime.

After Indiana tied it once more, the Bears turned it on and went on a game-sealing 4-0 run. Junior Mallory Reynoso took a great inside feed from Swadling to put Cal ahead 5-4. A huge momentum swing over the next minute saw Indiana fail to convert a 6-on-4 – thanks to a key block by junior Reagan Whitney – before conceding a penalty after an excluded Hoosier re-entered too soon. Sophomore Rozanne Voorvelt scored with ease past Indiana goalkeeper Mary Askew's extended left arm.

Senior Shea Salvino ended the third quarter with another Bear goal and Rowell sealed her first career hat trick early in the fourth to give Cal its largest lead, 8-4. A late push by Indiana saw the visitors cut the lead to two. However, a final dagger from Rowell at the 3:43 mark dipped in front of Askew and took a hard skip into the top netting, extending the Bears' lead back to three, 9-6, and putting the game to bed.

Prior to the game, a host of former Cal women's water polo players and coaches from the program's pre-NCAA era were honored on the pool deck as part of Cal's 50th anniversary of Title IX celebrations.

The Bears will be on the road for their next five contests, beginning with a two-game trip to Hawaii next weekend that pits them against No. 5 Hawaii on Saturday and No. 7 Long Beach State on Sunday.

No. 3 Cal 9, No. 19 Indiana 7
Cal 1 3 3 2 – 9
Indiana 2 1 1 3 – 7
Cal Goals: Claire Rowell 4, Mallory Reynoso, Ruby Swadling, Shea Salvino, Rozanne Voorvelt, Janna Tauscher
IU Goals: Kallie White 2, Louisa Downes 2, Sophia Sollie, Zoe Crouch, Grace Hathaway
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 8
IU Saves: Mary Askew 12


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