April 4, 2003

BERKELEY, Calif. - The fifth-ranked California women's water polo team claimed its fourth consecutive victory by defeating No. 10 UC Santa Barbara 6-3 in an Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matchup Friday afternoon at the Spieker Aquatics Complex.

With the win, Cal improves to 12-5 overall, 5-2 in the MPSF and remains undefeated at home (2-0) with three left to play. Meanwhile the Gauchos lost for justthe second time in their last nine matches and now stand at 14-10, 2-5 in league action.

UCSB took a quick 1-0 advantage 1:40 into the match on a score from freshman Jennifer D'Anna, but that would be the only lead for the Gauchos on the afternoon. The Bears went on to score three unanswered to end the first period, starting on a power play goal from sophomore attacker Cara Chlebicki, tying the game at 1-1. Sophomore center Jodie Needles broke the game open with two successive scores - the second after she stole the ball at midpool and converted on the one-on-one opportunity with UCSB goalie Erin Enriquez. The first period ended with a 3-1 Golden Bear lead.

The second period was sloppy for both sides, as neither team was able to get anything going in a set offense. The quarter almost scoreless until Cal's Allison Gold put a skip shot past Enriquez with 48 seconds remaining in the half. Cal went into the break with the 4-1 advantage.

The third period was a firefight as both sides came out shooting. Berkely goalkeeper Lauren Dennis was up to the task, however, as she made three of her eight saves in the period. Chlebicki got things started for the Bears at the 5:14 mark, but Santa Barbara's Katy Kunkel answered back 21 seconds later with a man-advantage goal. Up 5-2 in the final minute of the third stanza, Needles received the pass down low in the post and immediately dished the outlet pass to Natalie Nelson for the score from the right side to give the Bears a commanding 6-2 lead.

Cal aimed to put it away once and for all in the opening moments of the fourth, as the Bears earned an early man-advantage opportunity. But the new Gaucho goalkeeper, junior Kristen McGlennon, got defensive and stopped consecutive California power play shots to keep the score where it was. McGlennon earned her stripes stopping four shots in the fourth period to keep the Bears from widening the gap. Kunkel responded to her teammate's solid play with her second score of the day with 59 seconds remaining to bring UCSB within three, 6-3. It was a little too late for the visitors as Cal ran out the clock on the ensuing possession.

The Gauchos conclude their two-match MPSF road swing Saturday at 12:00 p.m. by squaring off with Pacific in Stockton, Calif.

		1	2	3	4	Total
UCSB		1	0	1	1	3
Cal		3	1	2	0	6

Cal Goals: Jodie Needles 2, Cara Chlebicki 2, Allison Gold, Natalie Nelson.
Cal Goalie Saves: Lauren Dennis 8

UCSB Goals: Katy Kunkel 2, Jennifer D'Anna.
UCSB Goalie Saves: Erin Enriquez 2 (14 mins.), Kristen McGlennon 6 (14 mins.).