The No. 4 Cal women’s water polo team faced Michigan on Friday, March 25. This top-10 nonconference match was a feat for the Bears, who emerged with a 13-8 victory over the Wolverines.

This was the second win that Cal has earned against Michigan this season. The Bears last defeated the Wolverines by a score of 12-8 at Arizona State at the season-opening Cross Conference Challenge that was held earlier this year on Jan. 21.

The Cal women’s water polo team has gone toe-to-toe with a nationally ranked team in every game this season. With a motivating victory over San Jose State University already fastened under their belts, the Bears hit the road on March 18 to face Arizona State and Indiana.

They returned to campus with wins that weekend and continued their success during spring break with their victory over Michigan.

Junior Cecily Turner registered a hat trick and two other goals and senior Elli Protopapas found the back of her opponents’ goal three times — the duo led Cal off to a promising start in the Bears’ latest game against Michigan.

Emma Wright, three-time All-American and 2020 Olympian, has contributed 16 points for Cal in the past three games and has a career total of 189 goals, now in eighth place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for points per game.

Wright scored two goals against Michigan. She is in a tie for No. 5 all-time in goals scored for Cal.

Junior Isabel Williams is glistening in the water. She leads the conference with 10.6 saves per game. Not only has Williams been named the MPSF Player of the Week twice this season, but she also has earned one of the best goalie seasons in Cal history. Williams made eight saves against Michigan.

Michigan was unable to rebound from Cal’s advantage and the Bears swam off with a 13-8 win.

Tune in to watch Cal tread the waters Saturday, April 2 against UC Irvine.