TEMPE, Ariz. – The fourth-seeded Cal women's water polo team advanced to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship game for the first time in four years Saturday with a thrilling 8-7 upset of No. 1 Stanford at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at Arizona State University.

The Bears (19-6) defeated the Cardinal (21-2) for the first time since 2000, a span of 40 games.

Cal last played in the MPSF title game in 2011, when it knocked off UCLA for the championship. The Bears will once again face the Bruins for the title this year, as UCLA beat USC in Saturday's other semifinal game.

“I'm really proud of our team – the way we played consistent, high-level water polo for four periods,” Cal coach Richard Corso said. “It's a great win, not only for this team, but for all the girls that have played at Berkeley over the years.”

Sophomore goalie Madeline Trabucco made seven saves – including a couple of pivotal stops during the game's final moments – to help the Bears preserve the victory.

Senior Kelly McKee and freshman Carla Carrega led Cal with two goals apiece while Dora Antal, Roser Tarrago, Sierra Smiley and Stephanie Mutafyan each also got on the board to give the Bears just enough offense to knock off the top team in the land and the defending NCAA champions.

Cal got off to a hot start. After the game was tied at 1-1 early on, Tarrago, Antal and Carrega each scored to give the Bears a 4-1 lead after the first quarter. Stanford (21-2) cut the deficit to 5-3 at halftime and then to 5-4 early in the third quarter, but another goal by Carrega and McKee's first score pushed the advantage back to 7-4 with 2:36 remaining in the period.

 McKee came up with another big goal when she answered a score by Stanford star Maggie Steffens with her second of the game to make it 8-5 with 5:37 left in the game.

The Cardinal scored two unanswered goals to trim the deficit to one, but Cal's defense turned back the Cardinal the rest of the way.

Sunday's championship game begins at 2:30 p.m. and can be watched on a live stream by clicking here.

No. 4 Cal 8, No. 1 Stanford 7

Cal 4 1 2 1 - 8

Stan 1 2 1 3 - 7

Cal Goals: Carla Carrega 2, Kelly McKee 2, Sierra Smiley, Roser Tarrago, Dora Antal, Stephanie Mutafyan.

Stanford Goals:  Maggie Steffens 3, Kiley Neushul 3, Anna Yelizarova.

Cal Saves: Madeline Trabucco 7

Stanford Saves: Gabby Stone 8