Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos
WPOLO3/23/2024 3:24 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Bears' Comeback Falls Short
Dempsey Leads Cal With 3 Goals, 2 Assists
LOS ANGELES – The No. 2 California women's water polo team held No. 5 USC scoreless for the entire fourth quarter on Saturday at Uytengsu Aquatics Center, but a late comeback fell a goal short in an 8-7 Golden Bear defeat.
Carried down the stretch by its defense – which had four field blocks and two saves in the final frame – Cal (11-4, 1-1) cut a three-goal deficit to just one on a brilliant solo goal by Maryn Dempsey with 2:45 remaining. Coming out of a timeout with 10 seconds left, the Bears went 7-on-6 for their final possession but were forced into a difficult shot by the Trojan (14-4, 1-0) defense, ending the game.
Dempsey tied for game-high honors with three goals to go with two assists. Senior goalkeeper Isabel Williams finished with 11 saves – including a first-half penalty stop – to go with an assist.
While it was a defensive struggle down the stretch, the game got out to an offensive start as both teams traded punches throughout the opening period. Maddie DeMattia got Cal on the board early with a goal from the left side as the Bears answered a USC 6-on-5 goal with one of their own. Rozanne Voorvelt caught USC's defense off guard with a deep lob shot from straight away and Williams found Dempsey on a breakaway, both times giving Cal a one-goal lead.
The defensive intensity picked up in the second quarter, leaving few openings for either side to take advantage of. Shortly after entering the game for the first time, Feline Voordouw put away the Bears' only goal of the period, reeling in a pinpoint pass from Kate Meyer to put Cal back up 4-3. The Trojans scored the final two goals of the half, starting a 5-1 run that extended late into the third quarter.
Trailing 8-5, the Bears ended the third with one of their best sequences of the day. After making her second save in less than 30 seconds, Williams launched a remarkable pass right over the defense and into the path of Mallory Reynoso. Reynoso drew three defenders to her before making an unselfish pass to a wide open Abbi Magee to cut the lead to two at 8-6.
A valiant fourth-quarter effort by the Bear defense kept them within striking distance, but Dempsey's top-corner rocket in the final minutes would go down as the game's final goal.
Cal will remain on the road for two games next week, starting with a Thursday meeting at No. 6 Fresno State.
No. 5 USC 8, No. 2 California 7
Cal 3 1 2 1 – 7
USC 3 2 3 0 – 8
Cal Goals: Maryn Dempsey 3, Maddie DeMattia, Rozanne Voorvelt, Feline Voordouw, Abbi Magee
USC Goals: Ava Stryker 3, Julia Janov 3, Maggie Johnson, Hannah Meyer
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 11
USC Saves: Carolyne Stern 12
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWWPolo), Instagram (@calwwpolo) and Facebook (CalWomensWaterPolo).
