Feb. 2, 2013

STANFORD - The fourth-ranked Cal's women's water polo team split its matches during the first day of the Stanford invitational on Saturday, coming back to defeat No. 14 Indiana 12-7 before falling to No. 3 UCLA, 7-4.

Senior All-American Emily Csikos led the way with five goals during the two matches, including four against the Hoosiers. Junior Ashley Young totaled three goals on the day.

The Bears (3-1) fell behind the Hoosiers 4-1 at the end of the first quarter but came back to tie it up at the half. Cal then outscored Indiana 5-1 in the third quarter to take control.

"We called a timeout and the girls picked up the pace," Cal coach Rich Corso said. "We just took it one series at a time and it got better. We started playing better frontcourt defense."

Cal trailed UCLA 1-0 at the end of the first period and 3-1 at halftime. The Bears couldn't make up any ground in the second half as the Bruins held on. Csikos, Young, Dana Ochsner and Kelly McKee scored the goals against UCLA.

"The most important thing is the conference," Corso said. "The conference is going to be huge. This gives us a good idea of what we need to work on the next few weeks."

The Bears continue play in the Stanford Invitational on Sunday with a match against No. 11 Hawaii at 9:10 a.m. Should Cal win, it would play in the Third Place game at 3:15 p.m.

Stanford Invitational
Cal 12, Indiana 7
Indiana 4 0 1 2 - 7
Cal 1 3 5 3 - 12
Cal Goals: Emily Csikos 4, Ashley Young 2, Victoria Williams 2, Dana Ochsner, Tiera Schroeder, Taylor Dodson, Breda Vosters.
Cal Saves: Monica Murray 2.

UCLA 7, Cal 4
Cal 0 1 1 2 - 4
UCLA 1 2 2 2 - 7
Cal Goals: Dana Ochsner, Kelly McKee, Emily Csikos, Ashley Young.
Cal Saves: Savanna Smith 7.