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

SCORING:
CAL – Eszter Varró 2, Maria Bogachenko 2, Holly Dunn 2, Rosalie Hassett.
STAN –  Jenna Flynn 3, Claire Minton 2, Juliette Dhalluin, Ella Woodhead, Serena Browne.

SAVES: Talia Fonseca (CAL) 5, Christine Carpenter (STAN) 6.

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.

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