IRVINE – The No. 6 California women's water polo team began the Barbara Kalbus Invitational with a win Friday evening, defeating No. 14 UC San Diego 13-4.

With their second straight victory, the Golden Bears improved to 7-1. This is the third straight year they've won at least seven of their first eight games.

Junior Elena Flynn poured in her second four-goal performance of her Bear debut season to go with a pair of assists. Senior Maryn Dempsey scored once in the fourth quarter, putting her and Flynn in a tie for the current team lead in goals with 14.

Similar to last Saturday's wire-to-wire win over No. 13 UC Davis, Cal jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back. Reagan Whitney, Mallory Reynoso and Mara Loughlin put away the first three goals in quick succession. Flynn took an assist from Rozanne Voorvelt to make it 4-0 with 1:21 left in the first.

The Bears ended the half on a 3-1 run to go into the break leading 7-2. Flynn opened the scoring midway through the second with a 6-on-5 goal and assisted Janna Tauscher on the very next play. Dempsey set up Reynoso for her second goal in the final minute of the half.

Cal put things away in the third, outscoring the Tritons 4-1. Freshman Feline Voordouw struck first at the 5:13 mark, followed two minutes later by Tauscher's second goal. Flynn capped her scoring with another two goals in the final two minutes of the period. Her penalty with 36 seconds to go in the frame made it 11-3. Sophomore Abbi Magee later added her name to the score sheet in the final seconds of the game.

Senior goalkeeper Isabel Williams ended her day with 14 saves. The Bears have now held their opponent to five goals or fewer in four of their first eight contests and are allowing an MPSF-best 5.9 goals per game.

On Saturday, Cal will play two games at Corona del Mar High School. The Bears open the day against No. 3 Fresno State at 11:45 a.m. PT and will play again at either 4 or 5:15 p.m. against No. 2 Hawaii or No. 12 Long Beach State.

No. 6 California 13, No. 14 UC San Diego 4
Cal 4 3 4 2 – 13
UCSD 1 1 1 1 – 4
Cal Goals: Elena Flynn 4, Mallory Reynoso 2, Janna Tauscher 2, Maryn Dempsey, Mara Loughlin, Feline Voordouw, Abbi Magee, Reagan Whitney
UCSD Goals: Courtney Okumura, Emily Cloherty, Grayson Mix, Abigail Schechter
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 13, Elaia Hamilton 2
UCSD Saves: Katie Ward 10

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