BERKELEY – The No. 4 Cal women's water polo team blitzed No. 1 Stanford with a spirited second-half comeback but came up just short in a 13-12 loss Saturday at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

The Bears (13-6, 1-3 MPSF) trailed 10-3 with 30 seconds left in the first half but a goal by All-American Emma Wright 15 seconds later seemed to give Cal a jolt after the intermission. The Bears scored the first two goals of the third quarter then outscored the Cardinal 5-1 in the fourth.

Sophomore Brigit Mulder scored the last of her three goals on the power play with 37 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one, but the Cardinal was able to run out most of the rest of the clock and Cal couldn't get off a final shot.

Wright, the second-leading scorer in the MPSF, also finished with three goals to give her a team-high 44 on the season. Sophomore Elli Protopapas added two goals, including one on a penalty shot.

The 12 goals are the most Stanford has allowed in a game this season.

All-American goalie Madison Tagg made eight saves for the Bears.

Cal is back in its home pool Sunday to host Indiana at 4 p.m.


 
No. 1 Stanford 13, No. 4 Cal 12
Stan 4 6 2 1 – 13
Cal 1 3 3 5 – 12
Stanford Goals: Aria Fischer 6, Sarah Klass 3, Makenzie Fischer 2, Kat Klass, Ryann Neushul
Cal Goals: Brigit Mulder 3, Emma Wright 3, Elli Protopapas 2, Claire Sonne, Sarah Siepker, Kitty Lynn Joustra, Lauren Charter
Stanford Saves: Emalia Eichelberger 12
Cal Saves: Madison Tagg 8