SAN JOSE –An eight-goal second half wasn't enough for the No. 6 California women's water polo team to overcome No. 1 USC in Saturday's MPSF Semifinal as the Golden Bears were defeated 16-10.

For the second straight year, Cal (18-9) will close out the MPSF Championships in the third-place game against No. 3 UCLA on Sunday.

Eight different Bears found the back of the net, with two goals each coming from junior Maddie DeMattia and sophomore Rozanne Voorvelt. Senior goalkeeper Isabel Williams finished with six saves – moving her to No. 5 in program history for her career – to go along with four steals.

The Trojans (26-1) got out to a strong start, leading 2-0 through one quarter and striking first in the second. DeMattia and junior Ruby Swadling capitalized on 6-on-5 situations to score Cal's first two goals in the second quarter, but both times USC responded with a goal on its next possession. The Trojans led 6-2 at the half.

The Bears' offense hit its stride in the second half, scoring four goals in both the third and fourth quarters. Power plays led to goals from junior Maryn Dempsey and DeMattia in the third. Voorvelt scored twice in the span of 64 seconds, first on a gorgeous Cal counterattack and then on another 6-on-5. However, USC scored six times in the third to take a 12-6 lead into the final frame.

Seniors Cecily Turner and Helena Batey put away Cal's first two goals of the period. In-between those strikes, Williams went full extension to deflect her fifth shot of the day, giving her 538 saves in her Bear career to move past Lauren Dennis for the No. 5 spot in Cal women's water polo history.

In the final minute, freshman Lindsey Harris fought to scoop up a loose ball and score from close range and junior Reagan Whitney tucked a sweet shot inside the far post to cap things off. It was just the sixth time the Trojans conceded double-digits goals to an opponent this season. Cal joined No. 2 Stanford as the only teams to do it twice.

The Bears will now look to repeat as MPSF third-place game winners after defeating the Bruins in dramatic fashion in 2022, 10-9. Cal and UCLA are tied 1-1 in the 2023 season series. The Bears defeated the Bruins 9-7 in the Barbara Kalbus Invitational third-place game in February, while UCLA won 11-6 two weeks ago in Berkeley. Opening sprint is set for 12:45 p.m. at SJSU's SRAC Pool.


No. 1 USC 16, No. 6 California 10
USC 2 4 6 4 – 16
Cal 0 2 4 4 – 10
USC Goals: Tilly Kearns 5, Grace Tehaney 3, Paige Hauschild 2, Mireia Guiral, Tea Poljak, Alejandra Aznar, Christina Crum, Morgan Netherton, Maggie Johnson
Cal Goals: Maddie DeMattia 2, Rozanne Voorvelt 2, Maryn Dempsey, Cecily Turner, Ruby Swadling, Helena Batey, Lindsey Harris, Reagan Whitney
USC Saves: Carolyne Stern 7, Jada Ward 2
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 6

 

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