Cal Women’s Water Polo Defeats Indiana 19-7, Seniors Honored | Next: vs Long Beach State
BERKELEY — The No. 4 California Golden Bears women’s water polo team delivered a dominant performance on , securing a decisive 19-7 victory over No. 12 Indiana at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The win was particularly poignant as it coincided with a Senior Day celebration honoring four departing Cal players: Nieve Courtney, Lindsey Harris, Abbi Magee, and Claire Rowell.
Cal quickly established control of the match, building an early lead that Indiana was unable to overcome. The Bears’ offensive firepower proved too much for the Hoosiers, with 10 different Cal players contributing to the scoring effort. Sophomores Maria Bogachenko and Feline Voordouw, along with junior Julia Bonaguidi, spearheaded the attack, combining for an impressive 11 goals.
While the underclassmen provided the bulk of the scoring, the senior class also made significant contributions. Abbi Magee scored her 103rd career goal, extending the Bears’ lead to 13-4 in the third period. Later in the fourth, Magee assisted Claire Rowell for another Cal goal, pushing the score to 18-5. Lindsey Harris earned a crucial 6-on-5 opportunity for the Bears, and Nieve Courtney secured an early steal that helped set up one of Julia Bonaguidi’s four goals on the day.
The Bears’ offensive versatility was on full display, with Despoina Drakotou adding two goals to her season total. Julianne Snyder, Rosalie Hassett, Reece Helsel, and Eszter Varro each found the back of the net once, showcasing the depth of Cal’s roster. Bonaguidi’s four goals led all scorers, while Bogachenko also contributed a hat trick.
Defensively, Cal was equally strong, limiting Indiana’s scoring opportunities. Talia Fonseca protected the goal for three periods, recording seven saves, while Lexi Nelson added one save in the final period. Indiana’s Jasmine Higgs and Audrey Cox combined for six saves in the contest.
The final score reflected Cal’s dominance: – No. 4 Cal 19, No. 12 Indiana 7. The game unfolded as follows: Cal 4 – 6 – 4 – 5 = 19; Indiana 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 = 7.
Scoring Summary: For Cal, Maria Bogachenko led with four goals, followed by Julia Bonaguidi with four, Feline Voordouw with three, and Despoina Drakotou with two. Julianne Snyder, Rosalie Hassett, Reece Helsel, Abbi Magee, Claire Rowell, and Eszter Varro each added one goal. For Indiana, Crace Klingler scored three goals, Audrina Kang added two, and Nancy Baylor-Sefchick and Olivia Harris each scored once.
The victory improves Cal’s overall record to 12-3 and their MPSF conference record to 3-1. This win comes at a crucial point in the season as the Bears navigate a challenging conference schedule.
Notable Performances: Julia Bonaguidi has now scored multiple goals in Cal’s last four games, demonstrating a consistent offensive presence. Despoina Drakotou recorded her team-best 12th game with multiple goals, solidifying her position as a key offensive threat. Drakotou currently leads the team in scoring with 36 goals this season. Drakotou, Magee, and Voordouw have each scored in 13 of Cal’s 14 games this season, highlighting their reliability and consistency.
Cal will now turn its attention to a road trip next week, beginning with a nonconference matchup against Long Beach State on , at 4 p.m. The Bears will then travel to Los Angeles for an MPSF contest against USC on , at 12 p.m. At the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. These upcoming games will be critical as Cal continues to compete for a top spot in the MPSF standings and a favorable seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
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