Courtesy: Cal Athletics
FRESNO – The No. 4 California women’s water polo team continued its perfect start to the season Saturday at the Fresno State Polo-Palooza, fending off the host No. 9 Bulldogs 13-10 before cruising to a 24-8 win over No. 12 UC San Diego to later in the day.
Elena Flynn closed out her stellar season-opening weekend with another four-goal effort and six goals on the day, giving her a team-leading total of 10 goals through three games. Ruby Swadling and Janna Tauscher scored five times apiece.
No. 4 California 13, No. 9 Fresno State 10
Facing their first top-10 opponent of the season, the Golden Bears (3-0) got out to another fast start with a goal by Swadling on their opening possession. Freshman Rosalie Hassett, who assisted on Swadling’s goal, drew a penalty two minutes later that led to a five-meter strike by Flynn.
Leading 2-1 after one, Cal caught fire in the second, outscoring Fresno State (1-1) 6-2 in the period led by a two-goal quarter by Bonaguidi. Swadling tucked away her second goal of the opening half to give the Bears a 7-1 edge at the 4:01 mark and sophomore Julianne Snyder capped the half with a goal in the final seconds to send Cal into halftime leading 8-3.
The Bulldogs inched their way back into the game the rest of the way, but five different Bears found the back of the net in the second half to hold them off. Swadling’s third and final goal of the game with 5:42 remaining put Cal ahead 12-9 and Hassett closed things out with a goal in the final minute.
Cal 2 6 3 2 – 13
Fresno 1 2 5 2 – 10
Cal Goals: Swadling 3, Bonaguidi 2, Flynn 2, Snyder, Rowell, Tauscher, Hassett, Rose, Magee
Fresno Goals: Andress 3, Ochoa 2, Simshauser 2, van der Kolk, Cranley, Williams
Cal Saves: Talia Fonseca 7
Fresno Saves: Islay Martin-Hill 3
No. 4 California 24, No. 12 UC San Diego 8
It didn’t take long for the Bears to pull away in their second game of the day against UCSD (0-2), thanks to a 15-goal first-half outburst. Their 24 total goals were their most during a season-opening tournament since 2015.
Sophomore Feline Voordouw put in two goals on Cal’s first two possessions. Five other Bears scored before the end of the first period to put the Bears up 7-3. Tauscher scored twice in the second period, while Flynn ended the opening half with three goals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Talia Fonseca recorded the first double-digit save effort of her career, finishing with 10 saves and a steal.
Cal 7 8 4 5 – 24
UCSD 3 3 1 1 – 8
Cal Goals: Flynn 4, Tauscher 4, Hassett 3, Snyder 2, Bonaguidi 2, Voordouw 2, Swadling 2, Courtney, Meyer, Voorvelt, Harris, Ramirez
UCSD Goals: Burns 2, Christl, Okumura, Doak, Thomas, Schechter, Bartholomew
Cal Saves: Talia Fonseca 10
UCSD Saves: Lexi Stahl 5, Bria Zwaschka 4
Next Up
Cal will play an exhibition against No. 5 Hawaii on Sunday at 10:20 a.m. in its final action before hosting next weekend’s Cal Cup.
