July 30, 2010

BERKELEY -

California sophomore standout Emily Csikos was named a 2010 first-team All-American, while senior captain Camille Hewko was tabbed third-team All-America and sophomore goalie Stephanie Peckham, senior two-meter Stephanie Schnugg and senior driver Meghan Corso were honorable mention All-Americans, it was announced by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.

A standout from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Csikos became the Golden Bears' first, first-team All-American since U.S. Olympian Ericka Lorenz earned the honor in 2001. Csikos led the Bears with 69 goals in 35 matches (third in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with 1.97 goals per game) this season, including scoring a team-high seven goals during the three MPSF Tournament matches. She paced Cal in scoring in 16 of the team's 35 contests and was the Feb. 8 MPSF Player of the Week. Csikos was an honorable mention All-American as a freshman and first-team All-MPSF and MPSF All-Academic this year. This past summer she led Canada to the finals of the FINA World Championships in Rome.

Hewko, from Newport Beach, scored 39 goals in 35 matches and finished with 112 goals in her career. She was first-team All-MPSF and a member of the 2010 MPSF All-Tournament Team, as well as MPSF All-Academic. Hewko came to Cal from Corona del Mar High School where she was named the 2006 Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register Player of the Year. She was also named third-team All-American in 2009.

Peckham, from Coto de Caza and Santa Margarita High School, was stellar guarding the Bears' goal this year, setting a new school record by tallying 311 saves in 35 matches, with 23 saves at the MPSF Tournament and 26 at the NCAA Tournament. She was an honorable mention All-American last season and already has recorded 616 saves in two years, third on the school's all-time career save list.

One of seven seniors on the Cal squad, Schnugg was second on the team in scoring with 41 goals, leading the Bears with three goals in their 7-5 victory over San Jose State in the MPSF Tournament first round. She is the daughter of Peter Schnugg, who was Cal's first NCAA Player of the Year for men's water polo in 1973. Schnugg tallied 92 goals in her career and was an honorable mention All-America pick last season.

Another senior standout for the Bears was Corso, who was second on the squad with 41 goals and was outstanding in the NCAA Tournament, notching six goals in the three matches, including a team-high three goals in the national championship third-place match. She was the April 5 MPSF Player of the Week and concluded her career with 172 goals, fourth on the school's all-time career scoring list.

In arguably the best year in Cal women's water polo history, the Bears, directed by 1996 USA men's Olympic water polo coach Richard Corso, placed third in the nation after defeating Michigan, 12-8; falling to top-seed Stanford, 6-3; and defeating Loyola Marymount, 11-7, at the NCAA Tournament in San Diego. Cal concluded the 2010 campaign 26-9.