BERKELEY – The No. 8 Cal women's water polo team used balanced scoring and a suffocating defense to notch an impressive 13-4 victory over No. 10 San Jose State on Saturday in its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

After the Spartans took a 2-1 lead late in the first quarter, the Bears (17-4, 1-0 MPSF) scored seven unanswered goals, the first six of which came from different players. Each of Cal's first seven goals came courtesy of a different player, and the Bears had eight different goal-scorers overall

“It's good from one huge perspective, and that's that we have a good team,” Cal coach Richard Corso said. “It's not just one or two kids. We have a lot of kids who can really play.”

By the time San Jose State broke the Bears' scoring string, it had gone 10 seconds short of two full quarters without scoring. Cal then scored three more goals in a row to extend to an 11-3 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

“We're getting back to playing not only strong individual defense, but team defense,” Corso said. “And we're starting to get healthy.”

Junior Emily Loughlin led the Bears with three goals while sophomore Carla Carrega, junior Stephanie Mutafyan and senior Pippa Saunders each added two. Freshman goalie Madison Tagg registered three saves.

The Bears return to Spieker Pool for a nonconference game against San Diego State next Saturday, Mar. 19 at 1 p.m.

No. 8 Cal 13, No. 10 San Jose State 4

SJSU 2 0 1 1 - 4

Cal 3 3 2 5 - 13

SJSU Goals: Donia Momen, Kelli Leabo, Carla Toha Vilanova, McKenna Yates

Cal Goals: Emily Loughlin 3, Carla Carrega 2, Stephanie Mutafyan 2, Pippa Saunders 2, Kindred Paul, Sierra Smiley, Brooke Vowell, Molly Quinn

SJSU Saves: Alicia Magliocco 5.

Cal Saves: Madison Tagg 3