The Varsity Blues women's water polo team righted the ship after three straight losses with a spectacular 10-9 golden goal overtime comeback win over the Cal Lutheran Regals.  It was the first time in four tries over the past several years that the Blues bested the Regals.  It was the third win in nine games for the Blues on their California competition tour.

The Blues won the opening swim off and promptly went down the pool and scored to get out to an early lead.  However, things turned sour in a hurry as the home side came back with four unanswered goals to grab a 4-1 advantage heading into the second quarter.

The Blues downward spiral continued as the Regals poured in two more goals to go ahead 6-1 a minute and a half into the second period.  But the Blues caught fire offensively and tightened up defensively, which led to four unanswered goals and suddenly U of T was back in the game, trailing by only one at the half.

Toronto scored the only goal of a defensive slog throughout the third quarter and the Blues had come all the way back to tie things up 6-6 entering the final frame of regulation time.

The Regals retook the lead a minute into the fourth quarter but the Blues got the equalizer with less than a minute remaining.  Neither team could score on its last possession and the game ended in a 7-7 tie setting up overtime.

Overtime in NCAA water polo is conducted on the basis of two three-minute periods.  If the score is still tied, the game goes to a golden goal sudden victory series of three minute periods until a goal is scored.

The Blues struck first in the first overtime period and held that 8-7 advantage heading into the second overtime period.  But the Regals burst out in the first minute and a half with two markers of their own to take a 9-8 lead.  Again the Blues persisted and, with less than a minute remaining, notched the equalizer to send the game into the "next goal wins" stage.

Each team had a couple of possessions but came up empty.  Then, with less than a minute remaining, the Blues stole the ball and stormed up the pool to score the game winning goal.

Devon Lynch was the hero with the game winner, one of her three goals on the night.  Hannah Levin also had a hattrick. Co-Captains Sarah Wentling and Kaitlyn Palmer along with Vega Jones and Emma Benoit added singles.  Goalie Hana Truchla had a solid game making 10 saves, several of the high degree of difficulty.

The Blues will stay in Thousand Oaks to play four games in two days as part of the Tina Finali tournament hosted by Cal Lutheran.