Cal Bears Water Polo Splits Road Trip, Prepares for Big Splash Against Stanford

The No. 4 Cal Bears water polo team recently completed a crucial road trip in Southern California, where they faced off against tough competitors such as No. 8 Long Beach State and top-ranked USC. Following a strong 19-7 victory against No. 10 Indiana, the Bears improved to 3-1 in MPSF conference play, demonstrating their resilience and competitive spirit.

Dominating Long Beach State

Cal began their road trip on a high note, overpowering Long Beach State with an impressive 11-6 victory. The game, however, didn’t start smoothly for the Bears, as they struggled to find their footing and conceded the first two goals. Additionally, three early ejections put them at a disadvantage against the Beach’s powerplays.

The turning point came in the second quarter when junior center Feline Voordouw sparked momentum with a steal that allowed utility sophomore Holly Dunn to score, leveling the match at 2-2. This goal marked the beginning of a scoring surge from Cal. Despite Long Beach State fighting back in the third quarter, senior attacker Abbi Magee and junior attacker Julia Bonaguidi responded with goals to push Cal ahead by three points. Magee capped off her hat-trick just before the end of the third quarter, giving the Bears an 8-5 lead.

In the fourth frame, freshman utility Despoina Drakotou scored her first collegiate goal, extending Cal’s lead. Although Elisa Portillo scored for Long Beach State, the Bears sealed the game with two additional goals, closing out the match decisively.

Challenge Against USC

Cal’s next challenge was against USC, where they played at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The highly anticipated matchup commenced with a flurry of back-and-forth scoring, with each team matching the other’s goals. Emerging star sophomore attacker and 2024 Team USA Olympian Emily Ausmus opened the scoring for USC, but Bonaguidi quickly countered during a powerplay. The first quarter concluded in a 5-5 deadlock, setting the stage for an intense battle.

In the second quarter, Rosalie Hassett kept Cal competitive, scoring a goal after another USC strike. However, USC pulled ahead with three consecutive goals before Hassett managed to score again just before halftime, narrowing the gap to 7-9.

The second half began with USC adding two more goals, but Cal’s offense, led by Bonaguidi, retaliated. Sophomore center Ezster Varró managed to bring the score to 12-9, but the Bears entered the final quarter trailing 13-9. The defenses tightened significantly, resulting in only one goal per team in the final frame. Although Varró scored again to make it 13-10, it was not enough for a comeback.

Despite the loss, Cal showcased notable improvements, limiting their exclusions to 10 compared to USC’s 15. The Bears’ conversion rates, while still needing refinements—40% during this game and an overall 32%—demonstrate potential growth compared to their previous encounters.

Looking Ahead: The Big Splash Against Stanford

With a current season record of 13-4 and 3-2 in conference play, the Bears are gearing up for their final regular-season matchup against Stanford in the Big Splash. The stakes are higher than ever, as MPSF tournament seeding hangs in the balance. With Cal set to host the conference tournament, the upcoming game promises to be pivotal for the Bears’ postseason ambitions.

As excitement builds, fans and players alike look forward to a thrilling conclusion to the regular season. For more information on Cal water polo and updates on their upcoming matches, visit the official Cal Bears Athletics website.