Aug. 21, 2008

BEIJING - Former Golden Bears Heather Petri and Elsie Windes won silver medals with the U.S. water polo team Tuesday morning. The Americans fell just one goal short in the gold medal game to the Netherlands, 9-8, at the Ying Tung Natatorium. Petri and Windes both earned starting nods, but neither scored (a combined 0-for-5 on shots on goal).

The Netherlands built a four-goal lead in the first quarter before the Americans stormed back to knot the score at 5-5 at the end of the second quarter. This was Team USA's first gold medal game since the 2000 Olympics and the third consecutive medal in Olympic competition, which is a feat that no other women's water polo team has accomplished.

The trip to Beijing was Petri's third time competing at the Olympics - she took home a bronze medal in 2004 in Athens and silver at the 2000 Sydney games. This is Windes' first trip to the Olympics.

Petri lettered at Cal from 1997-99 and then returned to finish her degree and eligibility in 2001. The Orinda, Calif., native was Cal's 1999 and 2001 team captain and was second team all-MPSF, MPSF Tournament first team and All-National first-team in 1999.

Windes was a four-year letter-winner at Cal from 2004-07. A three-time All-American at Cal, Windes scored 23 goals in 18 matches in her senior year and concluded her career with 147 goals (fifth place on Cal's all-time scoring list). The Portland, Ore., native was Cal's first true freshman ever to be selected as an honorable mention All-American.