BERKELEY – Hosting No. 17 San Jose State on Sunday in its final home game ahead of the postseason, the No. 5 California women's water polo team came away with a 17-9 win.

Powered by the play of their seniors – who were honored prior to participating in their final regular-season contest at Spieker Aquatics Complex – the Golden Bears (14-5, 3-2) pulled away with a 6-2 run in the third quarter, giving them a commanding six-goal advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Four Bears recorded hat tricks, led by senior Maddie DeMattia's career-high four goals. Senior Maryn Dempsey, junior Elena Flynn and freshman Feline Voordouw all scored three times. Senior goalkeeper Isabel Williams finished with 12 saves and three steals.

After an SJSU (9-13, 0-6) strike opened the scoring early on, the Bears ended the first period on a 2-1 run with goals by Voordouw and DeMattia. Cal's offense exploded over the next two quarters, totaling 11 goals to SJSU's six. The Bears were especially deadly in transition, getting out on the break with pinpoint outlet passes and finishing things off with unselfish decision-making in the attacking third.

DeMattia scored in a variety of ways both in close and from the outside, finding the back of the net in all four quarters. She is currently enjoying the best scoring stretch of her career, now having scored 12 times in her last five outings.

Williams – who saved two penalties in the game – will head into Friday's regular-season finale at No. 3 Stanford just 25 saves shy of the program's all-time record. Following that game, Cal will head to Bloomington, Indiana, for the MPSF Championship from Apr. 26-28 and will later host the NCAA Championship from May 12-14.

No. 5 Cal 16, No. 17 SJSU 9
Cal 2 5 6 3 – 16
SJSU 1 4 2 2 – 9
Cal Goals: Maddie DeMattia 4, Maryn Dempsey 3, Elena Flynn 3, Feline Voordouw 3, Claire Rowell, Rozanne Voorvelt, Julianne Snyder
SJSU Goals: Ivanna Anderson-Villela 3, Darcy Spark 2, Sinia Plotz 2, Lucy Miszewski 2
Cal Saves: Isabel Williams 12
SJSU Saves: Grace Smith 8
 

Isabel. Williams.

?? Another penalty stop for the senior!#GoBears ?? pic.twitter.com/OIzjtCHyQX

— Cal W Water Polo (@CalWWPolo) April 14, 2024

Not just a team, but a family ??

Our 2024 senior class has come together to battle through a ton of adversity over the past 4 years, representing their school and their team in a way only true Golden Bears can ????#ForeverGolden #SeniorAppreciation #Legacy pic.twitter.com/KqRufFrUzI

— Cal W Water Polo (@CalWWPolo) April 15, 2024

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