March 16, 2013

BERKELEY - The No. 5 Cal women's water polo team held a two-goal lead midway through the fourth quarter, but No. 3 Arizona State came back for a 10-9 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation victory Saturday afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

Senior All-American Emily Csikos led the Bears with four goals while Breda Vosters and Ashley Young added two apiece.

Neither team had more than a two-goal lead throughout, and the Sun Devils led most of the way. But after Arizona State took a 7-5 lead late in the third quarter, the Bears (12-5, 0-3 MPSF) scored the next four goals to lead 9-7 with 4:55 remaining in the game. Vosters' goal with 5:34 left put Cal in front for the first time, and moments later Dana Ochsner took a beautiful feed from Tiera Schroeder for a point-blank goal to up the advantage to two goals.

But Arizona State star Alicia Brightwell, who scored four goals, cut the deficit to 9-8 just 13 seconds later. ASU's Amanda Young followed up with a 6-on-5 goal with 3:49 remaining to tie it, and Petra Pardi scored the game-winner on a power play with 1:15 left. A final shot by Csikos as time wound down was saved by Arizona State goalie E.B. Keeve.

With her output Saturday, Csikos moved to within seven goals of Cal all-time leader Colette Glinkowski with 205 in her career.

The Bears are next in the pool next Saturday against Harvard at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The Bears beat the Crimson 14-5 earlier this season at the Princeton Invitational.

No. 3 Arizona State 10, No. 5 California 9
ASU 2 2 3 3 - 10
Cal 1 2 3 3 - 9
Cal Goals: Emily Csikos 4, Breda Vosters 2, Ashley Young 2, Dana Ochsner.
Cal Saves: Savanna Smith 3