BERKELEY, Calif. \u2013 <\/b>Taking part in in its dwelling pool Sunday night time in its first NCAA Championship last since 2011, the No. 3 California ladies’s water polo workforce was defeated by No. 1 UCLA 7-4, ending one of many Golden Bears’ greatest seasons in current reminiscence.
In what was a defensive wrestle from the very first possessions, the Bears (19-7) managed to carry their third straight NCAA Championship opponent to a season low in targets, however could not discover sufficient offense to finish the Bruins’ (26-0) undefeated run.
“This was a particular season for us. Plenty of tradition constructing, a variety of teamwork, and actually constructing household,” senior Maryn Dempsey stated. “[After the game], all of us huddled collectively and reminded one another of how shut we’re and the reminiscences that we made. Regardless of successful or shedding, we’re simply going to recollect one another.”
Following a scoreless opening seven minutes, Dempsey struck first on a counter-attacking purpose\u00a0from the left wing that despatched the Bear devoted at Spieker Aquatics Advanced right into a frenzy. UCLA was capable of tie the sport on its last possession of the primary quarter and took its first lead a number of minutes into the second.
Sophomore Abbi Magee earned her second help with 3:31 to go earlier than halftime, establishing junior Rozanne Voorvelt for a catch-and-release launch into the highest proper nook that tied\u00a0it 2-2 heading into the break.
After the Bruins opened the second half with their third purpose of the night time, Cal received one other equalizer on a 6-on-5 with 2:56 remaining within the third, when Voorvelt discovered senior Maddie DeMattia for a stunning first-touch redirect from middle that caught UCLA’s protection sleeping. That will be the Bears’ last purpose till the closing moments, when DeMattia transformed one other\u00a0energy play with 32 seconds left within the recreation.
Dempsey ended the night time\u00a0because the Bears’ main scorer for the weekend \u2013 totaling\u00a0six targets over three\u00a0video games \u2013 and for the season (48).\u00a0She was named to the\u00a0NCAA All-Match First Workforce, whereas Williams and redshirt junior Elena Flynn each earned second-team honors.
“We had a very nice stretch of illustration all through our squad. They have been taught from one of the best. They have been taught do it proper and do it on the highest degree,” Cal head coach Coralie Simmons stated. “Now we have a extremely younger workforce that is going to have some actually good championship expertise below their belt, and that is going to be important for us transferring ahead. It is thrilling taking part in at dwelling and I thank Cal for permitting us to be right here. This can be a particular reminiscence that will likely be locked in endlessly for me as a coach, for us as a program, and for our athletes.”
In her last recreation as a Bear, goalkeeper Isabel Williams completed with a steal to go together with 11 saves, bringing her program record-setting profession saves complete to 885.
“I am simply bummed that I do not get to go to the pool on Monday,” Williams stated. “This was simply such a enjoyable yr that I do not actually care about another outcome about it. I simply need to be with my household \u2013 be with my workforce. We left a extremely robust mark and we had enjoyable each step of the best way. Now, it is nearly how we will transfer on from right here, how we will keep linked, and when the following Berkeley dwelling recreation is that we get to point out out to.”
From a season perspective, the Bears’ historic run to their second-ever NCAA Championship recreation included one of many program’s all-time best defensive outputs. Led by Williams \u2013\u00a0who ends her fifth-year senior season with profession highs in saves (326), save proportion (.653) and saves per recreation (12.5) \u2013 Cal allowed a nation-leading 6.7 targets per recreation in 2024.
“After I recruited Isabel, I advised her that she was going to should do huge issues for us, and he or she got here in and did that. The workforce actually received to depend on her in huge moments and have her because the spine of our protection,” Simmons stated. “You might be proficient however not have the eagerness to be a pupil of the sport that she does. She introduced that piece to the desk of simply loving the sport and loving Cal \u2013 of simply exhibiting up and competing. And that is infectious. She received to show the factor of being the final word teammate.”
The Bears additionally made historical past by that includes the primary feminine head coach ever within the NCAA Championship recreation in Simmons, who Williams and Dempsey each thanked for being one of many explanation why they selected to hitch Cal in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
“[Simmons] and I come from the same area within the Inland Empire, and I knew I wished to signify one of many best gamers to return from my space,” stated Dempsey, who graduated from Murrieta Excessive Faculty in 2020. “There are such a lot of huge head coaches on the market which are males, and to play below a girl \u2013\u00a0particularly in Berkeley \u2013 is a blessing. She has actually constructed us up and instilled a variety of confidence in us. I actually could not thank her extra.”
No. 1 UCLA 7, No. 3 California 4
Cal 1 1 1 1 \u2013\u00a04
UCLA 1 1 2 3 \u2013 7
Cal Objectives<\/b>: Maddie DeMattia 2, Maryn Dempsey, Rozanne Voorvelt
UCLA Objectives<\/b>: Panni Szegedi 3, Taylor Smith, Natasha Kieckhafer, Anneliese Miller, Genoa Rossi
Cal Saves<\/b>: Isabel Williams 11
UCLA Saves<\/b>: Lauren Steele 17
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BEARS STRIKE FIRST!
It is Maryn Dempsey once more ????#GOBEARS<\/a> ?? pic.twitter.com\/kB0b5amZrv<\/a>
\u2014 Cal W Water Polo (@CalWWPolo) May 13, 2024<\/a>
UCLA 4, Cal 3
Finish third
Big 6-on-5 purpose from Maddie DeMattia! The Bears path by one heading into the ultimate quarter of the season.
?? https:\/\/t.co\/S5sQYD6CTe<\/a>
?? https:\/\/t.co\/BVGpatVhUc<\/a>
?? #GoBears<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZHYp78jW1j<\/a>
\u2014 Cal W Water Polo (@CalWWPolo) May 13, 2024<\/a>
STAY POSTED<\/b>
For additional protection of Cal ladies’s water polo, comply with the Bears on Twitter (@CalWWPolo<\/a>), Instagram (@calwwpolo<\/a>) and Fb (CalWomensWaterPolo<\/a>).
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