April 17, 2010

STANFORD, CALIF. - The No. 3-ranked California women's water polo team saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end Saturday night after losing a close battle with No. 2 Stanford, 8-7, in the Big Splash at the Avery Aquatic Center. The score was close most of the match with neither team leading by more than one goal after the first period. With the game tied heading into the final quarter, both teams locked down on defense, holding each other scoreless the entire period, until Stanford senior Jessica Steffens scored the game-winning goal with one second remaining. Seniors Meghan Corso and Julie Oreglia led the Golden Bears with two goals apiece. Cal has not beaten Stanford since 2000 and has now dropped the last 26 contests against its rival, including a 10-7 decision in the finals of the Stanford Invitational in February. This was the Bears' final regular season match before the conference tournament, as Cal falls to 23-6 overall and 4-3 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation contests. Stanford improves to 21-1 overall, including 6-0 in MPSF league play.

The Cardinal struck first and led 2-0 after the opening minute of the match. However, the Bears fought back and scored three unanswered goals by Corso, senior Stephanie Schnugg, and freshman Breda Vosters to end the first quarter with a 3-2 lead.

After Stanford tied the score less than a minute into the second period, sophomore Elizabeth McLaren got Cal back in front with her lone goal of the game. The Cardinal then scored the next two goals, but moments later, the Bears were able to knot the score at 5-5 heading into halftime on Oreglia's first goal of the game.

The third quarter was just as tight as the first two periods, with both teams trading two goals apiece. Cal retook the lead 22 seconds into the period after Oreglia scored her second goal of the contest. After Stanford tied the game just thirty seconds later, Corso helped the Bears go back on top with her second goal of the match. However, the Cardinal managed to score one more goal before the end of the quarter, bringing the score to 7-7 heading into the final period.

Both teams played solid defense in the fourth quarter, holding each other scoreless for most of the frame. With four seconds remaining, Cal had a crucial turnover, which led to the game-winning goal by Steffens with one second left.

The Bears are off next week, and then return to action the following weekend for the MPSF Tournament Fri. to Sun. April 30 to May 2 at UCLA's Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles.

California: 3-2-2-0 --- 7
Stanford: 2-3-2-1 --- 8
California Goals: Meghan Corso 2, Julie Oreglia 2, Elizabeth McLaren, Stephanie Schnugg, Breda Vosters
Stanford Goals: Kim Krueger 2, Annika Dries, Kelly Eaton, Kelsey Holshouser, Alex Koran,
Melissa Seidemann, Jessica Steffens
California Saves: Stephanie Peckham 6
Stanford Saves: Amber Oland 7