FRESNO, CALIF. – The No. 5 California women's water polo team punched up another big first period of play to roll up a 16-9 win over No. 8 UC Irvine today in the finale of the Polopalooza in Fresno. Maria Bogachenko led the scoring onslaught with five goals, while Julia Bonaguidi and Abbi Magee had hat tricks for the Golden Bears to help improve to 3-0 on the year.

A couple freshman firsts also occurred in today's win, as Reece Helsel tallied her first goal as a Bear and goalie Lexi Nelson made her debut in the cage and made four saves.

The Bears busted out eight goals in the first period of play, including three straight from Bogachenko and a pair from Magee to build an 8-4 lead eight minutes into the action. Bogachenko got her five goals on the board by halftime, and Cal tallied three straight goals from Bogachenko, Feline Voordouw and Despoina Drakotou to end the half as a 12-6 Bear advantage. The scoring pace slowed in the second half, but the Bears were still in full control thanks to more stingy defense. Julia Bonaguidi would bury her third goal to open the fourth, while Nelson took over the cage from Talia Fonseca and court in goal to oversee Helsel's goal and the final 16-9 Cal victory. 

NEXT: Cal now turns to host the Brigitte Donner Daws Memorial Invitational next week. Formerly known as Cal Cup, the event features seven teams for early-season official and exhibition action at Spieker Aquatics Complex on Jan. 24-25.

NOTABLE:
- With three goals today, Julia Bonaguidi has scored multiple goals in all three Cal games this season.
- With two goals each today, Feline Voordouw and Despoina Drakotou have both had multi-goal outings in all three Cal games.
- Freshman Reece Helsel scored her first goal as a Bear today.
- Freshman Lexi Nelson made her Cal debut and recorded four saves in the fourth period.

2026 POLOPALOOZA (Fresno, Calif.)

#5 Cal 16, #8 UC Irvine 9
Sunday, Jan. 18 | Fresno, Calif.
CAL   8 - 4 - 2 - 2 =16
UCI   4 - 2 - 1 - 2 = 9

SCORING:
CAL -- Maria Bogachenko 5, Julia Bonaguidi 3, Abbi Magee 3, Despoina Drakotou 2, Feline Voordouw 2, Reece Helsel.
UCI -- Lauren Hett 3, Madi O'Hara 3, Sara Naulty, Chloe Patist, Annabelle Mudelius.

SAVES: Talia Fonseca (CAL) 9 [3 periods], Lexi Nelson (CAL) 4 [4th period], Annie Peak (UCI) 1, Mayezie Loggins (UCI) 1.

STAY POSTED 
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