No. 2 Stanford Pulls Away Late To Beat No. 4 Cal

BERKELEY – The No. 4 Cal women's water polo team held a lead over No. 2 Stanford late in the third quarter but couldn't withstand a flurry of fourth-quarter goals by the Cardinal in a 13-8 loss at Spieker Aquatics Complex on Saturday.

The Bears (9-5, 4-5 MPSF) took a 6-5 lead on a goal by senior Brigit Mulder with 1:56 left in the third before Stanford reeled off seven straight goals to take command.

The Cardinal scored two goals during the final 1:05 of the third and then scored the first five goals of the fourth period.

Mulder and freshman Maryn Dempsey each scored twice for the Bears while sophomore Cecily Turner registered six steals. Goalie Cassidy Ball made nine saves.

The Bears got off to a hot start, establishing a 2-0 lead on goals by freshman Mallory Reynoso and Dempsey. Stanford answered with a string of four straight goals before Turner scored with just over a minute left in the second quarter to make it 4-3 at halftime.

All-American center Kitty Lynn Joustra, who sat out much of the first half after picking up two exclusions, tied it at 4-4 with 6:15 to go in the third off a pass from Elli Protopapas. Dempsey then scored her second goal to put the Bears back in front, and the teams exchanged goals on the next two possessions to make it 6-5 Cal.

Stanford scored on each of its first five possessions of the fourth period to take control.

The Bears host the Cardinal again on Sunday at 1 p.m.