It’s the Big Game or rather the Big Splash. Cal women’s water polo faces off against its most storied rival tomorrow for its final MPSF match as a member of the Pac-12. As of now, Cal ranks No. 5 to Stanford’s No. 3, with a mere 5 points separating the two teams.
Friday’s match will be the third time head coach Coralie Simmons and her team face the Cardinal this season, the first being at the Stanford Invitational in early February and the second being the 2024 Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine, California.
More importantly, it’s the last conference match of the season, which, for the seniors, is especially poignant.
Heading into the Stanford game, senior Mara Loughlin looks forward to maintaining a strong defensive front. The same Bears defense held No. 1 UCLA, with a 20-0 record, to its fewest goals scored this season.
“I’m really proud of our defense in that game,” Loughlin said. “It just shows the potential that our team has. Throughout the season, we’ve always known that we were really strong and we’ve had the talent. Coming so close with that team and almost winning was a big confidence boost for us.”
Stanford, defending MPSF and NCAA champions, lost to UCLA by a much larger margin. With a 15-8 defeat against the Bruins on March. 30, Stanford leaves room for the Bears to hope for a win this weekend.
The first time these two teams were in the pool this season, they finished level at six goals at the end of regulation. But in overtime, Stanford clinched the win by two swift goals, finishing 8-6. The second match, Cal held the Cardinal to one fewer goal, but fell 6-7.
Maryn Dempsey, one of Cal’s top scorers, shared the same sentiments as Loughlin, especially regarding the blue and gold defense.
“I think we’re a completely different team now than when we faced them in the Kalbus tournament,” Dempsey said. “We’ve just been getting better, just as little as one percent every day, and continuing to do that until Friday when we play Stanford is really crucial to our success.”
Though quantifying success often feels like an unconquerable task, Dempsey appears to have found a way to shoulder the pressure of competing at the highest level of collegiate sports.
Likewise, Stanford is no stranger to the experience, having won the MPSF and NCAA Championships last year. It is perhaps why the rivalry between Cal and Stanford runs so deep.
“We have to go in there knowing that we’re in their home pool. It’s going to be a special weekend for them … They’re looking to hold on to that Big Splash trophy and we’re looking to get it for the first time ever, or maybe I think for the first time in a couple of years,” Dempsey said.
Last year marked Stanford’s eighth consecutive Big Splash win. But with Cal’s impressive defense and steadfast confidence, whether the trophy will remain in the South Bay remains to be seen.
