No. 2 Stanford Women’s Water Polo Outlasts No. 4 California 8-7 In Senior Day Victory
Jenna Flynn’s hat trick combined with a second-half lockdown defensive effort proved to be the winning combination in Stanford’s 8-7 win over Cal on Saturday. Current photo via Stanford Athletics
STANFORD, Calif. – Jenna Flynn’s hat trick combined with a second-half lockdown defensive effort proved to be the winning combination in No. 2 Stanford’s 8-7 win over No. 4 California on Saturday afternoon at Avery Aquatic Center.
Stanford (11-1, 5-1 MPSF) ripped off four straight goals after falling behind 5-2 and led the rest of the way. Flynn completed her hat trick with 4:59 left in the final period before Christine Carpenter made a series of clutch stops to preserve win.
Stanford has dominated the rivalry series, winning 23 of the last 28 matchups against California over the last 12 seasons. The Cardinal also defeated the Golden Bears 14-7 in the semifinals of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Feb. 14 in Irvine.
The outcome was especially memorable for Maggie Hawkins and Jackie King, who were honored in a postgame Senior Day ceremony. The senior tandem has led Stanford to records of 79-10 (overall) and 19-5 (MPSF) while capturing NCAA and MPSF championships in 2023 and 2025. Hawkins and King also guided the Cardinal to a 21-1 record in games played at Avery Aquatic Center.
California (13-5, 3-3 MPSF) looked sharp early, building a 3-2 lead through the first quarter and moving in front 5-2 with 2:35 left to play before halftime.
Claire Minton and Juliette Dhalluin kept the Cardinal within striking distance in the first period while Flynn scored the first of her three goals 30 seconds before intermission.
After scored from Ella Woodhead and Minton to open the third quarter, Stanford seized the lead for good at the 1:03 mark when Amber Nowaczek fed Serena Browne for a go-ahead score and a 6-5 lead.
The Golden Bears knotted it up a 6-6 but Flynn scored twice in a 40-second span midway through the fourth period to convert her ninth hat trick of the season.
Carpenter finished with six saves, the biggest coming on a breakaway from Maria Bogachenko with under two minutes.
Stanford now turns its attention to the MPSF Championship on April 10-12 in Berkeley, Calif. The Cardinal will be the No. 2 seed and face San Jose State on Friday at 11 a.m. in the opening round.
STANFORD – The No. 4 California women’s water polo team battled through a tough test at rival No. 2 Stanford, building an early lead and later sitting level with the Cardinal before the hosts made a later winning move. The Golden Bears’ 8-7 loss puts them at 13-5 overall with a 3-3 mark in MPSF play to set up Cal for the coming MPSF Tournament as the No. 4 seed. The Bears play host to the event next week, April 10-12, at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
Cal established itself as a force to reckon with early, with Rosalie Hassett nabbing a steal and then sizzling a skipper from distance at the other end. The Bears would go up 2-0 a couple minutes later with a crosscage blast from Maria Bogachenko, although Stanford answered on its next possession and then converted on its third of four power plays in the frame to knot things up 2-2 at 3:08. Eszter Varró fired right back with a rocket, and after Hassett delivered a field block against another Stanford 6-on-5, Cal gripped a 3-2 lead after eight minutes of action. Cal kept clicking in the next stretch, making it three straight scores with a Varró backhand and Holly Dunn left-handed laser to build a 5-2 Bear lead with 2:35 on the clock in the second. Stanford broke up the run with a goal in the final minute, and it was 5-3 Cal at halftime.
The referee whistle blew plenty in the third, and Stanford was able to convert on two power plays as well as an even score, making it a four-goal Cardinal surge to lead it 6-5 entering the fourth. Bogachenko unleashed a ripper to open the final frame and snarl the score at 6-6, only to see Stanford go back ahead on a 6-on-4 advantage, then add to the lead with a man-up counterattack finish. Cal got one back when Julia Bonaguidi found Dunn for a 6-on-5 finish that made it 8-7, but the Bears were unable to find an equalizer to force overtime in the final four minutes.
#2 Stanford 8, #4 Cal 7 April 4, 2026 | Avery Aquatic Center (Stanford, Calif.)
CAL 3 – 2 – 0 – 2 = 7
STAN 2 – 1 – 3 – 2 = 8
NEXT: As the No. 4 seed in the upcoming MPSF Tournament, Cal will face No. 5 seed Arizona State at 2:30 p.m. on Friday (April 10) to fight for a spot in the 12:45 p.m. semifinals against top-seeded USC on Saturday. Sunday competition will feature placement games, culminating in a 2:30 p.m. championship. For the tournament full schedule and results, visit the MPSF Tournament Central page.
NOTABLE: – With two goals today, Eszter Varró has scored in Cal’s last six games. – Varró has scored 12 goals in those last six games.
