No. 5 Bears Continue Strong Start With Pair Of Wins

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sophomore Ruby Swadling registered four goals and six assists and the No. 5 Cal women's water polo team continued its impressive opening weekend with victories over No. 4 Arizona State and No. 10 Fresno State on Saturday at the Cross Conference Challenge.

The Bears (3-0) made a strong statement with a 17-7 victory over the Sun Devils in the morning and then followed up with a 12-8 win over the Bulldogs later in the day. It was the most goals Arizona State has allowed in a game since 2015 and the most at home since 2009.

Senior Kitty Lynn Joustra and junior Cecily Turner each scored two goals in each game while senior Emma Wright combined for three goals, four assists, two steals and a field block during the day.

Cal got off to a terrific start against the Sun Devils, establishing a 5-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. Arizona State climbed back to within 6-3 with 5:07 left in the second quarter, but the Bears reeled off three goals in succession to take command. After leading 10-5 at halftime, Cal scored the first three goals of the third quarter to blow the game open.

The first quarter against Fresno State was back and forth, but after the Bulldogs scored to cut the Bears' advantage to 4-3, Cal strung together five goals in a row to lead 9-3 late in the first half. Fresno St. cut it to 11-7 with just over six minutes remaining, but the Bears' defense did the job the rest of the way.

Freshman Rozanne Voorvelt scored the first three goals of her career and added two field blocks during the day, while fellow freshmen Emma Singer and Alex Higginson also found the back of the cage for the first time.

Junior goalie Isabel Williams combined for 19 saves over the two games.

Cal closes out play in the Cross Conference Challenge on Sunday morning against No. 7 UC Irvine.