Courtesy: Cal Athletics
IRVINE, CALIF. — The No. 4 California women’s water polo team poured out seven goals in the third period of play to take full control of its first game at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational today in Irvine. Led by Despoina Drakotou’s hat trick, the Golden Bears had seven players score two or more goals in the well-balanced 16-8 win over No. 5 Hawai’i to secure a spot in tomorrow’s semifinals.
Cal had four different players account for its first four goals of the day to help build a 4-1 Bear lead in the first period. Drakotou notched her second to open the second frame, which was a tighter affair as the Rainbow Wahine had an answer for Drakotou and Holly Dunn’s scores to pull within two at halftime at 6-4.
That’s when Cal came unleashed. The Bears scored the first two goals of the third, then quickly followed a Hawai’i strike with three straight goals — Feline Voordouw and Eszter Varró each scored their second in that run, and Rosalie Hassett joined the score sheet to lift Cal to a 12-5 lead midway through the period. Dunn delivered again, and Julia Bonaguidi had the last word of the third to net a 13-7 Cal advantage.
Cal kept its foot on the gas while clamping down on the defensive end, as Maria Bogachenko, Abbi Magee and Bonaguidi each notched their second goals of the game. The defense kept Hawai’i to just one last goal, with goalie Talia Fonseca giving way to Lexi Nelson in goal for the final two minutes. Fonseca finished up with nine goals, and Nelson made a stop of her own to keep the Rainbow Wahine out of the net on her watch.
NEXT: Cal advances to the tournament semifinals tomorrow, taking on No. 1 Stanford at 3 p.m. at Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine.
NOTABLE:
– With their goals today, Despoina Drakotou (3 goals) and Feline Voordouw (2 goals) have scored in all eight games this season.
– Back from training and competition with Hungary, Eszter Varró scored her first goals of the season for the Bears.
– Today’s win gives Cal its second of the year over Hawai’i.
BARBARA KALBUS INVITATIONAL
Group Play
#4 Cal 16, #5 Hawai’i 6
Friday, Feb. 13 | Irvine, Calif.
CAL 4 – 2 – 7 – 3 = 16
UH 1 – 3 – 3 – 1 = 8
SCORING:
CAL — Despoina Drakotou 3, Julia Bonaguidi 2, Feline Voordouw 2, Eszter Varró 2, Holly Dunn 2, Abbi Magee 2, Maria Bogachenko 2, Rosalie Hassett.
UH — Ema Vernoux 2, Agatha Weston 2, Asimina Klapsianou, Raha Peiravani, Ariadna Temprano Xambo, Sienna Walker.
SAVES: Talia Fonseca (CAL) 9, Lexi Nelson (CAL) 1, Daisy Logtens (UH) 8.
