March 24, 2012

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - Led by three goals from junior standout Breda Vosters, the No. 5-ranked Cal women's water polo team outscored No. 8 San Diego State, 7-2, in the second and third periods on the way to an 8-6 victory Saturday (March 24) at the Aquaplex. The Aztecs had outscored the Golden Bears, 2-1, in the first period and 2-0 in the fourth quarter, but Cal was dominating during the middle of the match. The Bears, who had dropped three of their last four games, improved to 16-5 overall and 3-1 in the MPSF. With the loss, SDSU went to 16-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

After Cal got on the scoreboard at the 7:34 mark of the first period, the Aztecs netted back-to-back goals just over a minute a part by juniors Alex Ford and Amber Pezzolla to give the home team a 2-1 lead.

Cal retook the lead by blanking San Diego State in the second period with three unanswered goals by juniors Dana Ochsner, Remington Price and Vosters. The squads combined for six goals in the third period with the Bears jumping ahead by as many as four goals twice, including on a penalty shot with just nine seconds remaining at 8-4.

San Diego State tried to rally in the fourth period, scoring with 7:21 left in the game on a penalty shot by Leanne Ford and getting to within a pair on a Meaghan Poland goal off an assist from Alex Ford. The Aztecs, however, were unable to find the back of the net for the final six and a half minutes as Cal claimed the 8-6 league victory.

Vosters, who has tallied three goals in each of the last three matches and leads the Bears with 38 goals in 19 matches, had three goals on four shots against San Diego State.

Cal will next travel to No. 3-ranked USC on Saturday, March 31 at 1 p.m. at the McDonald's Swim Stadium in Los Angeles.

No. 5 California 8, No. 8 San Diego State 6 Aztec Aquaplex | San Diego, Calif.

Cal 1-3-4-0--8

SDSU 2-0-2-2--6

Cal goals: Breda Vosters 3, Dana Ochsner, Elizabeth McLaren, Kirstn Mase, Remington Price, Melissa Hale

SDSU goals: L. Ford 2, Pezzolla 2, A. Ford, Poland

Cal saves: Lindsay Dorst, 7

SDSU saves: Campoli, 17