WPOLO3/10/2024 4:47 PM | By: Cal Athletics
No. 4 Bears Down No. 2 Hawaii In Thriller
Flynn Scores 4, Williams Saves Potential Game-Tying Shot
BERKELEY – Facing the nation's No. 2-ranked team Sunday in front of an electric Spieker Aquatics Complex crowd, the No. 4 California women's water polo team came out on the right side of both a first-quarter flurry and a furious fourth-quarter finish, toppling No. 2 Hawaii 9-8.
Junior Elena Flynn led all players with four goals and senior goalkeeper Isabel Williams finished with 10 saves, the last of which knocked the Rainbow Wahine's (12-3) final shot attempt out of bounds with six seconds left in the game.
After putting the ball back in play, Hawaii's last-gasp effort on a pass inside two meters was knocked away thanks to a full-stretch deflection by junior Rozanne Voorvelt.Â
Flynn had turned in her fourth goal about six and a half minutes earlier to put the Bears up 9-5, but Hawaii slowly closed the gap. The Rainbow Wahine scored three straight to make it a 9-8 game with 1:17 remaining, bringing them within a goal for the first time since the opening minutes.
With by far their loudest crowd of supporters so far this season in attendance, the Bears flew out of the gates in the first period with a remarkable sequence spanning both ends of the pool. Cal scored three goals in less than a minute, punishing the Rainbow Wahine in transition and firing away with pinpoint accuracy. Julia Bonaguidi, Flynn and Maryn Dempsey all scored on successive possessions.
A minute later, sophomore Abbi Magee put one away on a 6-on-5 to make it 4-0 at the 4:30 mark of the first. Flynn later added a penalty with 25 seconds to go in the opening frame.
For most of the game, everytime UH tried to go on a run, the Bears had a timely answer. Claire Rowell scored from the outside in the second period and Rozanne Voorvelt converted a power play to make it 7-4 early in the third. Flynn put Cal back up by four goals, 8-4 with 3:46 to go before the fourth quarter.
Williams ended her day with three steals to go with her 10 saves. Flynn registered her third four-goal performance, good for most on the team.Â
The win comes just two weeks after Hawaii defeated the Bears 10-7 in the Barbara Kalbus Invitational Semifinals. Cal is now 2-1 against top-3 teams this year.
The Bears will finish up their three-game home stand against No. 13 Indiana next Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m. PT.
No. 4 California 9, No. 2 Hawaii 8
Cal 5 1 2 1 – 9
UH 0 4 1 3 – 8
Cal Goals: Elena Flynn 4, Maryn Dempsey, Claire Rowell, Julia Bonaguidi, Rozanne Voorvelt, Abbi Magee
UH Goals: Agatha Weston 3, Bernadette Doyle 2, Lot Stertefeld, Bia Mantellato Dias, Lucia Gomez de la Puente
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 10
UH Saves: Daisy Logtens 11
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