Feb. 28, 2010

IRVINE, CALIF. - The No. 4-ranked California women's water polo team fell to No. 3 UCLA in the sixth sudden death overtime period in the third place game at the UC Irvine Invitational Sunday at the Anteater Aquatics Complex. The eight overtime periods between the Golden Bears and the Bruins is the longest match in NCAA women's water polo history. This was the second time in the last week that Cal lost to five-time defending champion UCLA, who defeated the Bears 7-6 last Saturday at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Cal defeated No. 15 UC Davis (13-5) and No. 6 Hawai'i (8-4) in the first two rounds of the tournament before falling to No. 2 USC (10-5) and No. 3 UCLA in the second day. With their two losses today, the Bears drop to 12-4 on the season.

Senior Meghan Corso and sophomore Emily Csikos, Cal's leading scorer with 42 goals, paced the Bears with six scores each in their four games of the UC Irvine Invite. Sophomore Stephanie Peckham continued her strong defense by adding 27 saves in the second two rounds, bringing her total to 51 for the four-game tournament.

In the match against the Bruins, Cal and UCLA each scored two goals in the opening period. The Bears were able to shut out the Bruins in the second quarter and take a 4-2 lead into halftime. Both teams traded goals in the third period, giving Cal a 5-3 advantage heading into the final quarter. However, UCLA was able to comeback and outscore the Bears 2-0 in the fourth period to tie the score at five apiece and force overtime.

In the first three-minute overtime period, the Bruins scored one goal to take the lead. The Bears were able to answer back with a goal of their own in the second overtime period to set-up the sudden death showdown. Both teams were held scoreless in the first five sudden death overtimes, but with 1:07 remaining in the eighth (sixth sudden death) overtime period, UCLA's KK Clark scored the game-winner to give the Bruins the 7-6 victory.

Csikos scored three goals against the Bruins, while Corso added two. Senior Stephanie Schnugg scored the other goal for Cal, while Peckham notched 19 more saves.

In Cal's first match of the day against USC, the Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the opening period and took a 5-2 advantage into halftime. USC added four more goals in the third quarter, while outscoring the Bears 5-3 in the second half.

Cal received goals from five different players. Seniors Remy Champion, Erin Scully, and Camille Hewko, and sophomores Emily Csikos and Elizabeth McLaren were able to score for the Bears. Sophomore goalie Stephanie Peckham added eight saves.

Cal will next travel to Thousand Oaks, Calif. for the Cal Lutheran Tournament next Fri. and Sun. March 5 and 7. On Sat. March 6, the Bears will head to Los Angeles for a rematch with USC at 1:00 p.m.

California: 2-2-1-0--0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 --- 6
UCLA: 2-0-1-2--1-0-0-0-0-0-0-1 --- 7
UCLA Goals: KK Clark 2, Priscilla Orozco 2, Sarah Orozco, Grace Reynolds,
Leah Trella
California Goals: Emily Csikos 3, Meghan Corso 2, Stephanie Schnugg
UCLA Saves: Caitlin Dement 16
California Saves: Stephanie Peckham 19

California: 0-2-1-2 --- 5
USC: 2-3-4-1 --- 10
USC Goals: Kally Lucas 4, Joelle Bekhazi 2, Dominique Sardo 2, Patricia Jansco 2
California Goals: Remy Champion, Emily Csikos, Elizabeth McLaren, Erin Scully, Camille Hewko
USC Saves: Tumua Anae 10
California Saves: Stephanie Peckham 8