Aug. 19, 2008

BEIJING, China - As the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics wrapped up their 11th day, a pair of former University of California athletes helped the United States Women's Water Polo team advance to the finals with a 9-8 victory over Australia. The Cal contingent has earned 13 medals total - Canada and the Netherlands are tied for 12th place in the medal standings among countries with 13.

In water polo action on day 11, former Cal stars Heather Petri and Elsie Windes both saw action in the thrilling victory over Australia on Tuesday (Beijing time). The U.S. built an 8-5 lead by the Aussies roared back to knot the game at eight with 2:27 remaining. However, Brenda Villa scored for the U.S. and a final Australian effort was deflected to send the U.S. to the finals. Petri scored one goal and added an assist in the victory, while Windes had two shots.

Petri won a silver in 2000 and a bronze in 2004 and has now assured herself of a third medal , as well as the possibility of her first gold.

The Americans and Netherlands play Thursday in the final.

In men's field hockey on Tuesday, Canada beat South Africa, 5-3, to clinch fifth place with a 1-3-1 record in Group B. South Africa (0-5-0) finished sixth and last in Group B. South Africa led twice, at 1-0 and 2-1, but Canada's Wayne Fernandes scored his first goal in the 31st minute to send the match into halftime tied at 2-2. Fernandes scored another and teammate Connor Grimes scored two in the second half to clinch the win. Canada, with Cal volunteer assistant coach Peter Milkovich on staff, will play Group A fifth-place team Belgium in the ninth-place game at 5:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday (8:30 a.m. Beijing time on Thursday).

Other Cal contingent action coming up on Wednesday in Beijing includes Jason Kidd and the U.S. men's basketball team against Australia in the quarterfinals (Aug. 20, 5 a.m. Pacific time); the U.S. women's field hockey team with Cal head coach Shellie Onstead serving as an assistant coach vs. Spain vs. Spain in the seventh place game (Aug. 20, 11 a.m. Beijing, 8 p.m. Pacific on Aug. 19); and Vicky Galindo and the U.S. softball team playing in the semifinals against Japan (Aug. 20, 9:30 a.m. Beijing, 6:30 p.m. Pacific on Aug. 19).

Cal alumna Grace Upshaw reached the final of the women's long jump by posting a mark of 6.68 meters (21 feet, 10.99 inches) to take fourth place in qualifying Group A and sixth place overall in the preliminary stage. The women's long jump final is slated for 4:20 a.m. PT/7:20 p.m. Beijing time on Friday.