FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 4 California women's water polo team got out to a strong start to the 2025 season with a 19-7 win over San Jose State Friday evening at the Fresno State Polo-Palooza.

Three-time ACWPC All-American Elena Flynn opened her senior year in style with a game-leading four-goal effort. Redshirt junior Janna Tauscher finished with three goals and sophomore Julia Bonaguidi scored twice.

Flynn powered the Bears from the jump, scoring the first two goals of the game in the opening three minutes. Cal extended to a 5-2 lead before the end of the first period, getting a penalty from Ruby Swadling – who played her first game for the Bears since 2023 – and a late strike from the outside by Claire Rowell in the closing moments.

In the second, Freshman Rosalie Hassett put away her first goal in a Cal uniform and Tauscher notched her first two scores of the season, giving the Bears an 8-3 advantage at the half.

Flynn kept the momentum on Cal's side out of the break, once again scoring in quick succession with her third and fourth strikes in the opening minute of the second half. Bonaguidi followed with two straight goals several minutes later as the Bears pulled away.

Sophomore Mackenzie Walker and freshmen Abby Roder, Holly Dunn and Emily Ramirez all notched the first goals of their Cal careers in the final frame.

Goalkeepers Talia Fonseca finished with four saves and one save, respectively.

Cal will be back at it for two more games on Saturday against tournament host No. 9 Fresno State at 12:10 p.m. PT and No. 12 UC San Diego at 4:10 p.m.
 

No. 4 California 19, No. 18 San Jose State 7
Cal 5 3 5 6 – 19
SJSU 2 1 2 2 – 7
Cal Goals: Elena Flynn 4, Janna Tauscher 3, Julia Bonaguidi 2, Naive Courtney, Claire Rowell, Ruby Swadling, Mackenzie Walker, Holly Dunn, Abby Roder, Rosalie Hassett, Jessie Rose, Abbi Magee, Emily Ramirez
SJSU Goals: Darcy Spark 2, Bridget Cranley 2, Emma Ruzic, Genevieve Larkin, Rose Jensen
Cal Saves: Talia Fonseca 4, Elaia Hamilton 1
SJSU Saves: Grace Smith 6, Tatianna Raffin 1

 

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