No. 2 Cal Wins MPSF Opener
Stephen K Woo

No. 2 Cal Wins MPSF Opener

Bears Hold Another Opponent To Season Low

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BERKELEY – A balanced offensive attack and a season high-tying performance by goalkeeper Isabel Williams saw the No. 2 California women's water polo team cruise to a 17-5 win over No. 12 Indiana in Saturday's MPSF opener at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

Seven different Golden Bears (11-3) scored multiple goals and Williams finished with 18 saves for the second time this year. The Hoosiers (18-5) were the second straight top-12 opponent that Cal has held to a season low in goals.

Both teams came out firing in a back-and-forth opening period that had four ties and two lead changes. The Bears got some solid play out of their centers, led by senior Maddie DeMattia who had two first-quarter goals and drew an exclusion that led to another Cal goal.

Leading 5-4 after one, the Bears started to gain separation early in the second. Abbi Magee and Feline Voordouw found the back of the net on consecutive plays to make it 7-4. Lindsey Harris fired in a backhand shot around multiple defenders to make it 8-4 with 2:59 to go in the half. Indiana cut into the lead with a goal in the final minutes, but the Hoosiers would be shut out for the remaining 17:39 of play.

Coming out of halftime, the Bears didn't let up on either end, outscoring Indiana 5-0 in the period. Elena Flynn scored twice and DeMattia added another, sealing hat tricks for both players.

Cal added another 4-0 spurt in the final frame, with Reagan Whitney, Maryn Dempsey, Rozanne Voorvelt and Harris all contributing their second goals of the day. Williams secured a second-half shutout with seven saves of her 18 saves coming in the fourth. Cal's defense has now allowed five goals or fewer in half of its 14 games this season.

Following an undefeated three-game home stand, the Bears will head back on the road for three straight, starting with next Saturday's noon showdown against No. 5 USC.

No. 2 California 17, No. 12 Indiana 5
Cal 5 3 5 4 – 17
IU 4 1 0 0 – 5
Cal Goals
: Maddie DeMattia 3, Elena Flynn 3, Maryn Dempsey 2, Rozanne Voorvelt 2, Feline Voordouw 2, Lindsey Harris 2, Reagan Whitney 2, Abbi Magee
IU Goals: Sophia Sollie, Zoe Crouch, Nicola Tyner, Grace Klingler, Louisa Downes
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 18
IU Saves: Jasmine Higgs 5
 

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

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