April 30, 2006

IRVINE, CALIF. - Senior Allison Gold scored a goal with 4:07 left in the fourth period to lift the No. 6-ranked California women's water polo team to a 7-6 victory over Arizona State in the fifth-place match of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Women's Water Polo Championship Sunday at Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine.

The Golden Bears, who finished the MPSF Tournament, 3-1, improved to 18-9 on the season under first-year coach Richard Corso. Cal defeated Pacific, 21-4, in the opening round; fell to Hawaii, 10-8, in the second round; defeated San Diego State, 7-5, in the third round before Sunday's victory in the fifth-place match.

Cal had taken a 4-1 lead with 5:10 left in the second period on a goal by senior Brittani Llorente. Three straight goals for the Sun Devils tied the match at 5-5 with 4:59 left in the third period, but the Bears were able to hold on for the win. Gold and junior Elsie Windes paced Cal with two goals apiece, while Llorente, senior Lauren McGee and sophomore Vanessa Lindsey also tallied goals for the Bears. Sophomore goalie Heather Stuart finished with nine saves.

ASU 	0 	4	1 	1 	-	6
Cal	2 	3 	0 	2 	-	7
Scoring
ASU: Rowie Webster 4, Tessa Wyborny 1, Lindsay Williams 1
CAL: Elsie Windes 2, Allison Gold 2, Vanessa Lindsey 1,
Brittani Llorente 1 , Lauren McGee 1
Saves
ASU: Caylinn Wallace 12
CAL: Heather Stuart 9