April 22, 2000

BERKELEY, Calif. - California knew it was going to have a tough game on its hands when it hosted Stanford University Saturday afternoon in its final home game of the season, but the Bears likely didn't imagine a gut-wrenching 8-7 overtime win as the result. But that's just what happened, as senior defender Carrie Scribner moved up on the attack, blasting the final two goals of the contest into the Cardinal net to secure the California victory before a boisterous and appreciative crowd of family and friends inside Memorial Stadium.

Freshman attacker Britni Must handed California (11-5 overall, 5-2 in the WWLL) a 6-3 lead with 11:59 to play in regulation before Stanford (6-10 overall, 4-3 in the WWLL) jumped back into the game, mounting an aggressive comeback fueled by three-straight Caroline Osterwise goals to take a 7-6 lead with 0:44 seconds to play. But while the Cardinal were celebrating what appeared to be a game-winner by Osterwise, the Bears were planning a little something of their own.

Switching up her duties, Scribner took to the attack. Refusing to be shutdown, Scribner moved into whatever open space she could find, fighting for position as the game clock ticked off its final seconds, and then, with just three seconds remaining, Scribner found space...Scribner shot...Scribner scored...Scribner tied the game at 7-7.

"I gained a few gray hairs this game," said California head coach Jill Malko. "Usually the other team doesn't expect your low-defense player to take the attack, and Carrie took advantage of that opportunity. Carrie makes the right decisions. I think she's our smartest player out there."

But Scribner wasn't done yet. After playing the first overtime period scoreless, California found itself with under a minute to play in the second overtime stanza when Scribner again charged over the restraining line, catching the Cardinal off-guard as she raced towards the cage, and with 0:26 seconds left on the clock, Scribner did it again, scoring the game-winning goal and finalizing a sensational 8-7 league victory for the Bears, their sixth-straight since defeating Limestone 9-6 on April 1st.

"I toyed with the idea of playing Carrie on attack at the beginning of the season," said Malko. "She has some of the best stick skills on this team and she showed it with that goal."

Defensively, the Bears couldn't have been more solid, contesting every Cardinal advance towards the goal while forcing numerous turnovers, the result of which was a high-paced and hard-fought battle over the full 60 minutes.

"I felt going into halftime that we were going to win this game," said Malko. "This is the toughest team mentally that I've ever coached, and it paid off for us again today."

Junior midfielder Sarah Wheatley put the Bears on the board just 3:09 into the game and minutes later assisted on a goal by sophomore attacker Halsey Monger to deliver an early 2-0 California lead. The Bears held for a 4-2 halftime advantage. Additionally, freshman midfielder Laura Forrest tallied two goals for the Bears, one in each half.

"We ended up orchestrating a win like we knew it was going to happen," said California assistant coach Vale Cervarich. "Each week we're rising to a new challenge. Today our defense was patient and consistent, and that was key."

California plays in its final regular season game at Saint Mary's on Wednesday, April 26th, at 4 p.m. The Bears will then travel to Davis on Saturday, April 29th, for the WWLL North Division I Quarterfinals vs. Stanford at 2 p.m.

GOALS: Cal - Forrest 2, Scribner 2, Kado 1, Monger 1, Must 1, Wheatley 1, Stanford - Osterwise 4, Lanese 1, Lev 1, Rodriguez 1. ASSISTS: Cal - Forrest 1, LeMoult 1, Wheatley 1, Stanford - Lev 1. SAVES: Cal - Coelho 14, Stanford - Neumann 13. SHOTS: Cal 22, Stanford 21.