Cal Takes No. 2 Seed Into MPSF Championship

2024 MPSF CHAMPIONSHIP
AT COUNSILMAN-BILLINGSLEY AQUATIC CENTER | BLOOMINGTON, IND.

FRIDAY, APR. 26
NO. 3 (2 SEED) CAL (15-5) VS NO. 18 (7 SEED) SAN JOSE STATE (9-13) | 9 AM PT
LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAM (OVERNGHT)

FRIDAY, APR. 27
NO. 3 (2 SEED) CAL (15-5) VS TBD

SUNDAY, APR. 28
NO. 3 (2 SEED) CAL (15-5) VS TBD

Following last Friday's historic 11-6 win at Stanford, the No. 2-seeded California women's water polo team is set to take on No. 7 seed San Jose State in the MPSF Championship quarterfinals on Friday in Bloomington, Indiana. The Golden Bears earned a second consecutive third-place finish in last year's conference tournament, prevailing in a 12-11 thriller over UCLA. Cal enters the postseason with the nation's top defense, allowing just 6.5 goals per game behind a career season from goalkeeper Isabel Williams, who was one of three Bears named to the All-MPSF First Team on Wednesday alongside Maryn Dempsey and Elena Flynn.
 

BEAR NECESSITIES
 

HISTORIC WIN AT STANFORD
The Bears did something they hadn't done in 27 years in their regular-season finale at No. 4 Stanford, defeating the Cardinal by five goals, 11-6, behind huge performances from Flynn and Williams. Flynn outscored Stanford 4-3 in the opening half and finished with five goals for the second time this season, resulting in her first MPSF Player of the Week award. Williams surpassed the 800 career-save milestone with 15 saves, including two penalty stops.

5 BEARS LAND ALL-MPSF NODS
Cal was the only team with multiple All-MPSF First Team selections. Williams earned the honor for the third straight year, while Dempsey and first-year Bear Flynn made their debuts on the first team. Maddie DeMattia and Mallory Reynoso were also named All-MPSF Honorable Mention and Flynn additionally claimed a spot on the MPSF All-Newcomer Team.

SAVED BY THE ISABEL
Williams had already built one of the most prolific careers in program history prior to starting her fifth year as a Bear, but the two-time ACWPC All-American has raised the bar even higher this year, easily setting career highs while leading the MPSF in both saves per game (12.7) and save percentage (.668). She has reached double-digit saves in 18 of 20 games this season, including a pair of career high-tying 18-save efforts. Currently at 812 career saves, she is just four away from tying Stephanie Peckham for the highest total in program history. Williams also took home three MPSF Player of the Week awards during the regular season and was named to the Cutino Award Watch List for the second straight time.

DEFENSIVE CLINIC
Cal's defense has been at the center of its success so far this season. The Bears have allowed double-digit goals just once – three fewer than any other MPSF team. Cal has also held opponents to five goals or fewer on seven occasions.

MADDIE IN THE MIDDLE
One of the Bears' most effective options in the middle, Maddie DeMattia has been enjoying the best offensive stretch of her career. She has had four multi-goal efforts for a total of 12 goals over the past seven games, including two hat tricks and a career-high four-goal outing less than two weeks ago against SJSU. DeMattia has posted career highs in earned exclusions (40) – which ranks second in the conference – and goals (20).

DEMPSEY DOES IT ALL
From leading the team in sprints won to being the only Bear to score in every game, Maryn Dempsey has been an essential part of Cal's success this season. An MPSF All-Newcomer in 2021 and an Honorable Mention last year, Dempsey earned her first career first-team honor on Wednesday. The Murrieta native has put in 11 multi-goal efforts this year and ranks second on the team with 35 goals.

IMPACTFUL NEWCOMERS
Led by the dynamic offensive play of Flynn, the Bears' talented troupe of newcomers have made a big impact since the first day of the season. After transferring to Cal following back-to-back All-American seasons at UC Irvine, Flynn has gone on to lead the team in goals (38), four-goal games (4) and field blocks (11), the last of which ranks fifth in the MPSF. She took home two weekly conference honors this year on top of being named to the All-MPSF First Team.

Former Netherlands youth national team member Feline Voordouw is the Bears' third-leading scorer with 26 goals, having poured in four hat tricks this year. Freshmen Julia Bonaguidi and Julianne Snyder have added 10 and seven goals, respectively.
*2024 Cal Season Stats

BEARS TO HOST 2024 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
For the first time in program history, Cal women's water polo will host the NCAA Championship at Spieker Aquatics Complex, which takes place on May 10-12.

NATIONAL POWERHOUSE
Cal began the year with a No. 4 national ranking (Collegiate Water Polo Association), making it 14 straight years with a top-four ranking in the preseason. The Bears moved up to No. 2 following the second week of the season – earning its first top-two ranking since February of 2022 – and held that spot for a total of three weeks.

STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWWPolo), Instagram (@calwwpolo) and Facebook (CalWomensWaterPolo).